Few people outside of Holland have heard of this heroic mans success in saving the lives of almost 1.200 children and their parents. In 1942. Walter Suskind. himself a recent Jewish immigrant to Holland. was appointed by Amsterdams Jewish Council to assist the German SS in processing Dutch Jews through the Dutch Theater. a makeshift deportation center. Working from this unenviable position. Suskind and his associates Felix Halverstad and Dr. Bert de Vries Robles maintained contact with several resistance movement organizations and worked to oppose the Nazi occupation force in its efforts to deport the persons held at the Dutch Theater. Suskind and his associates designed a clever system to conceal their efforts to free the deportees and their children held in the day nursery across the street. Besides risking his life in defying the Nazi SS each day. Walter Suskind subjected himself to the hatred of his fellow Dutchmen in Amsterdam. who were unaware of his secret rescue activities. To most of these people. Suskind appeared to be a collaborator who used his polished manners and excellent command of German to fraternize with the SS. In spite of the animosity of his fellow citizens. and the inherent dangers of his manipulation of the Nazis deportation system. Walter Suskind continued his brave resistance activities until 1945. when he was sent to Auschwitz along with his wife. mother. motherinlaw. and his young daughter. Walter Suskind was able to save almost 1.200 children and their parents.
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immigrant deportation deportees