A Dutch Watchmaker Who Harbored Jews During The Holocaust

Who Was Corrie ten Boom?

A Dutch Watchmaker Who Harbored Jews During the Holocaust

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker who, along with her family, harbored hundreds of Jews during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. For her efforts, she was arrested and sent to a concentration camp, where she spent over two years. After the war, she became a Christian writer and public speaker, sharing her story of faith and forgiveness.

Early Life

Corrie ten Boom was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on April 15, 1892. Her father was a watchmaker, and she learned the trade from him. She was a devout Christian, and she often used her skills to help others.

World War II

When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940, Corrie and her family began hiding Jews in their home. They created a secret hiding place behind a false wall in their living room. Over the next two years, they hid over 200 Jews, including many children.

Arrest and Imprisonment

In 1944, the ten Boom family was betrayed by a neighbor. They were arrested and sent to a concentration camp. Corrie's father died in prison, and her sister Betsie died in a gas chamber. Corrie herself was released in 1945, after she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Post-War Life

After the war, Corrie ten Boom became a Christian writer and public speaker. She shared her story of faith and forgiveness, and she inspired people around the world. She died in 1983, at the age of 91.