Harry’s Story, Outtake #6 – A Glimpse of Aartswoud, North Holland Today

Aartswould, North Holland today is a quiet farming community north of Amsterdam. This is the village where Harry grew up when he experienced the Nazi occupation from 1940-1945.  A focal point of the village is the large church with a flat top steeple. Nazis used the steeple as a vantage point to watch the village below during occupation.

Harry’s Story Documentary

The documentary, ‘Harry’s Story’ is about the childhood memories of Harry Andringa when he lived in Holland with his family during the Nazi invasion in 1940.  He recalls the hiding of Jews in his family home to prevent Jews being sent to concentration or death camps. At the age of 25, Harry immigrated to Canada and worked as a TTC bus driver in Toronto for many years.  After retirement he moved to the small village of Flinton, Ontario with his wife Fim and son David.  Harry took a keen interest in volunteerism as a way to say thanks to Canada and the Allies for ending 5 years of Nazi brutality and ending the War in Europe in 1945.  Harry’s memories are preserved in his documentary.

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Harry’s Story, Outtake #5 – Baking a Cake for the Nazi Soldiers

Harry explains how German soldiers would enter their home and demand his Mother and Aunt to bake them a cake.

The documentary, ‘Harry’s Story’ is about the childhood memories of Harry Andringa when he lived in Holland with his family during the Nazi invasion in 1940.  He recalls the hiding of Jews in his family home to prevent Jews being sent to concentration or death camps.

At the age of 25, Harry immigrated to Canada and worked as a TTC bus driver in Toronto for many years.  After retirement he moved to the small village of Flinton, Ontario with his wife Fim and son David.  Harry took a keen interest in volunteerism as a way to say thanks to Canada and the Allies for ending 5 years of Nazi brutality and ending the War in Europe in 1945.  Harry’s memories are preserved in his documentary.

See the complete documentary on YouTube.

Harry’s Story, Outtake #4 – Money was Worthless – Trading for Food

During the Nazi occupation of Holland, Dutch money was worthless. To get food citizens traded anything of value to receive a bag of grain or other food. Harry tells an amusing story about a farmer with potatoes who made a bad trade.

The documentary, ‘Harry’s Story’ is about the childhood memories of Harry Andringa when he lived in Holland with his family during the Nazi invasion in 1940.  He recalls the hiding of Jews in his family home to prevent Jews being sent to concentration or death camps. At the age of 25, Harry immigrated to Canada and worked as a TTC bus driver in Toronto for many years.  After retirement he moved to the small village of Flinton, Ontario with his wife Fim and son David.  Harry took a keen interest in volunteerism as a way to say thanks to Canada and the Allies for ending 5 years of Nazi brutality and ending the War in Europe in 1945.  Harry’s memories are preserved in his documentary.

Harry’s Story, Outtake #1- Hiding Jews from the Nazis – Sonya and Esther

This is the first outtake from Harry’s Story. Harry explains where his little sister Sonya hid during Nazi home inspections as well as Sonya’s mother Esther.

The documentary, ‘Harry’s Story’ is about the childhood memories of Harry Andringa when he lived in Holland with his family during the Nazi invasion in 1940.  He recalls the hiding of Jews in his family home to prevent Jews being sent to concentration or death camps. At the age of 25, Harry immigrated to Canada and worked as a TTC bus driver in Toronto for many years.  After retirement he moved to the small village of Flinton, Ontario with his wife Fim and son David.  Harry took a keen interest in volunteerism as a way to say thanks to Canada and the Allies for ending 5 years of Nazi brutality and ending the War in Europe in 1945.  Harry’s memories are preserved in his documentary.

“Harry’s Story” Documentary Completed – Available Free for Public Showing

Thank you  for visiting our blog. Harry’s Story documentary is now complete and is available free, online.  Harry Andringa kindly let Ken and Cathy Hook interview him and ask questions about his experiences during the war.  Harry used to visit local schools in the fall months, around Remembrance Day, and tell high school children about the hardships his family faced after Nazi occupation in his village.  He explains how everything changed when the Nazis arrived.  He explains about the ‘Hunger Winter’ when thousands of Dutch citizen starved to death when the Nazis cut-off food supplies.

Harry’s family hid Jews from the Nazis.  Being caught was punishable by sent to a concentration camp or death for the Jews and the Dutch families.He describes concentration and death camps including the infamous Auschwitz.  His memories are supported by vintage war footage from the Canadian Army Newsreels.

Harry hopes that telling his memories of WWII in Holland will educate children into the horrors of war and what can happen when dictators and oppression can go unchecked.  History should not be able to repeat itself again.

View the complete documentary on YouTube.
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