There is substantial evidence that Abraham was murdered during the Holocaust. Yad Vashem hold 2 records of this, see these Links:
https://yvng.yadvashem.org/nameDetails.html?language=en&itemId=4219569
https://yvng.yadvashem.org/nameDetails.html?language=en&itemId=2003745
His name appears on a list of murdered Dutch Jews. He died on 28 February 1944 in an extermination camp. Abraham's niece testified that he was 'rounded up by Nazis' and sent to a 'concentration camp and never heard of again'.
However, there is also some evidence that Abraham had moved from Amsterdam to Velp, and was hiding in a house for 2 years (following the arrest in 1942 of his wife and children). Here is that account:
Abraham was hiding in Velp. He died of natural causes in Velp, the Netherlands. The family who sheltered him, Elbertsen, Alteveer 17, Velp, also sheltered other Jews, who survived the war. It is confirmed in writing, by Abraham's niece, Edith Soffer (then 'Obstfeld' daughter of Elsa, both hid in Jeruzalem 31, Velp with 12 others) that Abraham was indeed hiding in a nearby house, and that he died a natural death... in diaries and subsequent book of hers 'See the Sky' (Hebrew, and English from Oct 2020). The story was also told by Ria Duringhof, daughter of a neighbour of family who hid Abraham. (Duninghof and Elbertsen had to dispose of Abraham's body; they wrapped him in a sheet and threw him into the river; as they were hiding other Jews and did not wish attention from the Authorities).
I can see that BOTH accounts hold truth. In my view, Abraham had moved to Velp and was hiding, as witnessed by members of the extended family, hiding in Jeruzalem St., 31 and as written about in his niece's diary. However, he must then have been captured and deported to an extermination / concentration camp.
It is confusing regarding the names: Velp and Noordbrabant (which is also known as Vaught). It is not impossible that Abraham was in both places, however.
The names Velp and Vaught sound similar, Also so do the Provinces / areas: Noordbrabant (there was a transit camp: Kamp Vught in the North of the Netherlands, Noord brabant). For the village in North Brabant see Velp, North Brabant.
There was another Abraham Bloemendal, born in 1891 (in Utrecht). He was sent to Vught, Noordbrabant, see his card attached. Maybe there was a mix with records? because he could not have died in Velp and also in an extermination camp, as far as I know, there was not one in Velp at the time?
https://yvng.yadvashem.org/nameDetails.html?language=en&itemId=4219569&ind=1
Last Name |
Bloemendal |
First Name |
Abraham |
Gender |
Male |
Date of Birth |
14/10/1895 |
Place of Birth |
Groningen,Groningen,The Netherlands |
Place during the War |
The Netherlands |
Place of Death |
Velp,Noordbrabant,The Netherlands |
Date of Death |
28/2/1944 |
Status according to Source |
deported to an extermination camp |
Source |
In Memoriam - Nederlandse oorlogsslachtoffers, Nederlandse Oorlogsgravenstichting, `s-Gravenhage (Dutch Victims, Dutch War Victims Authority; courtesy of the Association of Yad Vashem Friends in Netherlands, Amsterdam) |
Type of material |
List of murdered Jews from the Netherlands |
Item ID |
4219569 |
* Automatic translation from Hebrew