Toespraak Angelique Berg, Directeur-generaal Volksgezondheid, bij de herdenking van de opstand in Sobibór

Toespraak | 05-12-2018

Prime Minister,

Minister,

Excellencies,

Director General,

Dear Mrs. Tagan Engel, daughter of Selma Wijnberg and Chaim Engel,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to stand here in front of you and share some words with you about this place, the former nazi-German death camp of Sobibór.

We all remember the horrible and unhuman events that happened here. We should never forget and learn from our past. That is the reason we are working together to create at this location a dignified place of remembrance to all two hundred thousand victims of an awful ideology. Thirty four thousand of them came from our country, Dutch Jews. Descendants of those that were killed here, tourists, school pupils and other visitors will have the opportunity to commemorate, to remember, to learn and to reflect.

When referring to the Second World War, especially to the discussion about who was ‘right’ and who was ‘wrong’ in the Holocaust, the eminent professor Yehuda Bauer always says that ‘nobody comes clean’. This pertains to all countries, including my country too. We all have a dark side in our history.

Allow me to give an example of inappropriate Dutch attitude. As a result of the outbreak in 1943, organized by a group led by Alexander Pecherski and Leon Feldhendler, fifty Jewish persons survived the war. One of them was the Dutch Selma Wijnberg. Together with her soon-to-be husband Chaim Engel, she escaped, ran through the minefield and stuck into hiding nine long months. Death was always around.

Liberated by the Red Army, both returned to the Netherlands. However, Selma and Chaim were regarded unwanted strangers by the Dutch government and threatened with expulsion. They left bitter. Only in 2010, the Dutch government offered excuses. Selma Wijnberg refused. She is 96 years old now. As said: nobody comes clean, no society with only heroes, including our society and government .

Let us never forget the horrors of the Second World War. In every time frame, we can learn from it, certainly in our days. I am convinced the resettled site of the former nazi-German concentration camp of Sobibór, with the new museum, will become a landmark for respect, remembrance and human rights. Therefore, the whole process of restauration and development of this museum has our full support. 

On behalf of the Dutch Government, I would like to wish all parties involved success with the ongoing restauration and I would like to thank you for the invitation for this commemoration.

Thank you.