Arnold de Levita was the youngest child of Aaltje van Kollem and Louis de Levita. Louis de Levita had six children from his previous marriage, some of whom lived with Aaltje and Louis in their home. Louis de Levita died on 17-Feb-1925. Aaltje, Rebecca and Arnold moved into the home at Burgemeester Tellengenstraat 14 huis, Amsterdam in April, 1935. As the stepchildren were adults and many already married, they did not live in the same home. The family continued to live in this home at the time of the war.
Arnold de Levita registered for the military on 07-Dec-1936. He is recorded as being 162 cm and 54 kg. At this time, he was released due to the service of his step-brothers. He appeared again 03-Dec-1937 and was determined to be suitable for service. He was conscripted on 01-Apr-1940 into the 7th Regular Infantry.
On his archive card, Arnold de Levita was recorded by 02-Apr-1942 as working in the Kremboong labor camp of the Eastern Netherlands. The camp housed around 200 laborers, who stayed in military style barracks of 8 men. It was primarily used to prepare fields in the area for agriculture. Although the work was very strenuous, the conditions were generally considered good. In July 1942, the camp received an influx of new individuals from Westerbork and was closed soon after.
Around this time, Arnold de Levita was able to return home, at least for his wedding. On 29-Jul-1942, Arnold married Sara Witteboon (b. 17-Feb-1913 in Amsterdam, d. 04-Jun-1943 in Sobibor). There is no record that the couple ever lived together.
Originally, the Joodse Raad declared Arnold de Levita as exempt for deportation due to the functional speciality of his wife, Sara. The justification for her exempt status is well documented on the card from the Joodse Raad, where she is listed as being a preparatory school teacher, formerly employed at J. Kleuterschool. In her case, Sara Witteboon was able to avoid deportation until 01-Jun-1943. In the case of Arnold, however, the exempt status did not last long.
Only six days after his wedding, Arnold de Levita was arrested on 05-Aug-1942 from the home at Burgemeester Tellengenstraat 14 huis at 12:20pm. A cell assignment and his signature can be made out on the police report. He was then deported to Westerbork on around 03-Oct-1942. He was transported on 02-Nov-1942 from Westerbork on a train bound for Auschwitz.
This particular transport contained many Jews who were rounded up by the Amsterdam Police, an action which started in September, 1942. The train was routed through Germany, including through Bremen and Berlin. The train stopped at Cosel on the evening of 03-Nov-1942. All of the men between the ages of 15-50, including Arnold de Levita, were ordered off the train, estimates ranging from 200-250 men. They were ordered to kneel with their hands up, watched by the Bahnpolizei (Rail Police). The men were then carted off in 4-5 trucks, each carrying approximately 50 men to the nearby town of Annaberg.
The men who were pulled from the trains in Cosel were subjected to extremely harsh living and working conditions. Most worked on projects in Silesia, such as the railroad. Of the 3400 men who had departed from Westerbork and deployed in Cosel, only 193 survived. Unlike the extensive record keeping in the larger camps, very little documentation exists regarding the prisoners who were pulled from trains in Cosel. Arnold de Levita is recorded as dying in ‘Midden Europa’ or Central Europe on 31-Mar-1943, his fate remains unknown after he was carted away on a truck from the small train station eighty kilometers west of Auschwitz.
Sources
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Aaltje van Kollem
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Rebecca de Levita
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Arnold de Levita
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Archive Card Sara Witteboon
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Military Registration Arnold de Levita
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Police Report 05-Aug-1942 Arnold de Levita
Amsterdam Stadsarchief: Police Report and Cell Assignment 05-Aug-1942 Arnold de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 130332773: Judenrat Card Arnold de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 130332788: Judenrat Card Sara Witteboon
ITS-Arolsen 5150869: Listen Westerbork, Family de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 5155559: Transport List Westerbork Family de Levita
ITS-Arolsen 89533599/TD 216 671: Tracing Inquiry Arnold de Levita
Memorial Center Camp Westerbork: Joodse Werkkampen Kremboong