BRIEFWISSELING JOHAN WILLEM IDEMA MET WILLIAM IDEMA IN AMERIKA
Johan Willem Idema schrijft op 14 maart 1946 vanuit Groningen:
“We had a very bad time here in Holland during the occupation by the Germans. In May 1940 our country was overran by the Germans armies and first it seemed that the Jerries intended to treat us reasonably. But Seys Inquart, the scoundrel that terrorised Austria before, was sent to Holland and by and by the real German character manifested itself. The Gestapo, that monstrous organisation, showed us what scientific terrorism could attain. The Jews were arrested and sent to death. The way in which this was preformed you will probably know. Further many of my best friends were shot. Heino Bult was arrested for spreading underground papers and died in Belgen-Belsen. Pieter Fleurke and Jan van der Laan were shot for the same reason. Pieter Teeuwes Harkema, the bookkeeper of my father’s business, his brother Willem Harkema, Roelof Nienhuis, Jan R. Dijksterhuis, Wim Kriegeman were murdered in a bestial way for underground resistance and hiding weapons.
In September 1944 I flied out of the Hague for I was punishable for having refused to work for the Germans. On my birthday I received a call to work in the defences along the coast near Rotterdam. I dived in Groningen (in the north of our country) in the parental house, where also my wife an little daughter of seven months were living. That was my fortune. In October 1944 the railway-strike made travelling very difficult and in that winter the West-part of our county, in which the Hague lies, was closed hermetically an thousands of our people died for lack of food. In the north, where a.o. corn and potatoes grow, the Jerries placed calls in the papers for shippers to transport food to the West. When arriving on the Yssel the ships and contents were attached and the Jerries laughed at that foolish Dutch. Meanwhile the Western people received as their weekly ration 1 kg. potatoes and 400 gr. bread, while the German soldiers fed themselves with eggs, pork and tippled wine and beer and that in the same places where children died like dogs. In that time the famous Dutch bulbs, which are grown behind the dunes in West, were consumed and a very small part rested for export after the liberation. But the bulb growers don’t rest and I read sometimes ago that a ship with bulbs departed for America. Also potato-skin was an article sought after and the price was f 2.50 (a dollar) pro kg.
During that bad time we lived in the North und somewhat better conditions because there the lack of food was not so intense. But the terrorism was as heavy as in the West. I had a hiding place in our house and when raids were held by the Gestapo I closed the place inside and nobody could find me! My radio set dived also and during that bad time I often listened to “America calling Europe” but very cautious because listening to the allied radio was punished by death. In this way we learned that the liberators were progressing step by step.
And then 17 April 1945 our day came. The 5th Canadian Army liberated our town. 240 Canadians 100 Groningen citizens but a great number of German dogs died during the fighting. Great damage was caused and the market build in the 14th century was totally ruined. Only the Martini tower 100 m. was saved. In the town of Groningen 3000 cases of war damage and in the province with the same name 1000 cases are registered.
By the Rebuilding Department I am appointed to Head of the Administration of the Provincial Office Groningen and I can say that I am thankful being able to devote my energy to the rebuilding of my country.“