Harry’s Story, Outtake #3 – How the Underground Helped Us Hide Jews

In this outtake Harry describes how the local Mayor chosen by the Nazis was threatening Harry’s family because they were hiding Jews from the Nazis.  A local policeman who was a member of the Dutch underground stepped in to help the Andringa family by making his own threat to the Mayor.

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.
Return to Home.