highlights
Persoonsbewijzen voor Joe Russel
Student Joe Russel (‘Kobus’) was leader of the Venray district of the LO. The search for him became so intensive that he had to assume a female identity. A scarf hid his Adam's apple.
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National Socialist society
The occupiers made frantic efforts to turn the Netherlands into a National Socialist society. The introduction, in 1941, of the persoonsbewijs [pb, identity card] allowed the Germans to exert more control over the population.
Age 14
Every Dutch citizen aged 14 and over had to have such a card, with passport photo and fingerprint, and had to carry it at all times. At the same time, more and more Dutch institutions were brought under National Socialist leadership.
Living in hiding
As the occupation continued, the number of people in hiding increased to more than 300,000 in 1944. Jews were the first large group in 1942, followed later by students, former soldiers and young men trying to escape work in Germany. Many people in the resistance were also living in hiding.
LO
At the end of 1942 the LO was set up, the National Organisation for Aid to Those in Hiding, which combined many existing groups.
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