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Jewish Patients in Geel During WWII

Research, undertaken by historians Gorik GORIS, Jos RATHE and
Geert VANDECRUYS in cooperation with the Jewish Museum of Deportation and
Resistance (JMDR), began in September 2005.

Façade of the Public Psychiatric Hospital of Geel

 

1. The Reasons Leading to the Investigation.

First and foremost was the existence of ‘The Jewish Archive’ in the general archives of the Public Psychiatric Hospital (Openbaar Psychiatrisch Ziekenhuis - OPZ ) in Geel ( previously known as the Rijkskolonie ) together with the personal files and index cards of the patients who in general were housed with families outside the grounds of the hospital.

Secondly Ward Adriaens (JMDR) drew to our attention the existence of a Jewish Register of Geel with the names and personal details of 75 Jews. This came as a complete surprise to us since all historical records over Geel and WWII claimed the non-existence of  a Jewish Register for Geel.

A number of people have, prior to our study been conducting research into the Jews of Geel. Messrs.W. Andries (former archivist of the OPZ ), J. Heyns and D. Kennis published a number of articles in the local newspaper Nieuwsblad van Geel.  Recently, the historian Frank Seberechts has consulted the OPZ archives in the context of investigating the role played by
the Belgian authorities in the Holocaust. His findings have been published in a report presented to the Belgian Senate ‘ Willing Belgium : The Authorities and the Jewish Persecution during WWII’
(‘Gewillig België : Overheid en Jodenvervolging tijdens WOII’). Edited by Rudi Van Doorslaer.

 

2. Historical Facts and Stubborn Myths

Apart from the the days prior to the Liberation there isn’t really any chronicalised WWII history over Geel. Of course there are a number of exagerated perceptions of the facts which,
as yet, remain unproven. e.g. Jews, posing as patients, going into hiding in the Rijkskolonie.
The wartime Mayor of Geel, K. Pelgroms, is said to have have ‘protected’ Jewish patients. This claim has been made, amongst others, by G. Krajsman ( ‘The Razor Blade King’ and, in Geel, the most famous ex-patient) who apparantly owed his life to the actions taken by the Mayor. On 14 April 1943 the deportation of Jewish patients was halted by a certain Dr. Freitag. ( A couple of days before Convoy XX was stopped by three Members of the
Resistance ).

So far we have been able to ascertain that three Jewish inmates died in the concentration camps. These patients left Geel of their own free will or due to the intervention of their next of kin. At the present time we have not found any trace of Dr. Freitag. Furthermore the file on which the case of  K. Pelgroms is based has disappeared from the General Archives (F. Seberechts). One thing is certainly true – many Jewish patients in Geel survived the war. However should one consider this fact under a general plan of rescue or was it just luck? Everything points to the fact that the Germans were well aware of the existence of the Jewish patients in Geel.
The administrative departments of both the Rijkskolonie and Geel Town Council were duty bound to furnish the Occupier with all requested information. To the best of our knowledge one, not mentally ill, Jewish child was taken into hiding in Geel and one was Christened, both, in order to prevent them coming into the hands of the Nazis. The degree of active/ passive/ administrative cooperation with the Germans by the wartime Mayors of Geel and the Chief Medical Officer of the Rijkskolonie, H. Rademackers, should, we believe, be further investigated. Incidently Rademackers stated in 1946 that he didn’t have any particular problems with the occupying forces during the war.

The almoner of the Rijkskolonie mentioned in his annual reports that during the war years the Rabbi didn’t come to visit the Jewish inmates. In fact he only turned up once after the Liberation and in the years 1945 – 47 he was not seen in Geel. It was, perhaps, no coincidence that it was during this period that the full extent of the Holocaust began to be fully appreciated.
One particular obstacle that we have so far been unable to surmount is that regarding the insight into the personal files of the Jewish patients. Privacy laws and medical secrecy are strictly enforced and The Medical Council have firmly set themselves against our viewing these dossiers as a matter of principle. Can this deadlock be broken? Perhaps, with the forthcoming discussions surrounding the report ‘Gewillig België’ , by the Senate, which could result in the adaptation of the archive laws.   As historians we are well aware of the pitfalls of viewing and interpreting events of WWII from a position of hindsight e.g. our knowledge and awareness of the existence of the Holocaust. In order to form an objective opinion it is important that we gain insight into written evidence which will assist us to unravelling the truth surrounding the myths. Greater insight into the personal history of the Jewish patients of Geel will enable us to give this episode of our history a more humane face.

 

3. Euthanasia in Geel?

 

This aspect of our research is ongoing. From the visitors book of the Rijkskolonie it appears that the Germans made an official visit to Geel on 14 March 1943 (i.e. one month prior to the‘failed deportation’ or ‘rescue’). Amongst the visitors was Dr. Holm, head of Medizingruppeder Militärverwaltung Belgen-N. Frankreich. The other visitors were unidentified. However reference to their place of origin (Arnsdorf, Bedburg,…..) could indicate that they were either directly or indirectly involved in the Nazi’s euthanasia programme. Since January 2007 we have been liaising with the German Archive Authorities with a view to clarifying this matter. Meanwhile, through W. Adriaens, we have been in contact with Dr. Yves Louis and Marc Verschooris in Gent.  They are engrossed in the problem surounding the collaboration of Flemish medical staff and academics with the ‘New Order’ in the ‘Eugenic Programme’
(Vlaamse Artsenkrant 31 October 2006). The archives of SOMA and AAG (Van Hoof, Libbrecht) should be, in our opinion, further researched. 

 

 

4. Topics for Investigation

1. What role did the local authorities and the board of governors of the Rijkskolonie  play in the registration of and the dealing with Jewish affairs during the Occupation? How far and how deep did the collaboration go? Does the question of ‘Passive Resistance’arise? Were Jews saved? Did Jews go into hiding in Geel?

2. What is the background of the Jewish patients in Geel ( origins, profession, family, nationality etc.) To what extent were the Jewish families involved in the deportation of their next of kin?

3. What is the background of the failed deportation of 14 April 1943? Did Dr. Freitag really exist?

4. What was the day to day life for the Jewish inmates before, during and after WWII?

5. When the buildings of the Rijkskolonie were taken over by the German Army in September
1943 a number of Jewish patients were moved to other instituitions. It should also not be forgotten that not all of the patients throughout the war stayed in Geel. In how far will it be possible to trace the movements (and whereabouts) of these patients?

6. Did German euthanasia specialists visit Geel? If yes: why? Were plans already afoot for the setting up of such a programme in Flanders? Why visit Geel?

7. The drawing up of chronological list depicting the situation of the Jews from Geel in the framework of the Occupation  and the Persecution in Belgium during the course of WWII.

Document from a file of the Foreigners Affairs

Geel, Belgium
27 June 2007

G. Goris
J. Rathé
G. Vandecruys

 

 

 

 

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