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Holocaust and Genocide Studies 1988 3(3):275-287; doi:10.1093/hgs/3.3.275
© 1988 by United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
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THE RESCUE OF JEWISH CHILDREN IN BELGIUM DURING THE HOLOCAUST*

SHLOMO KLESS

Kibbutz Nir David Israel

It is surprising that usually only the Dutch and the Danes, whose achievements were indeed extraordinary, have been acclaimed for their efforts in saving Jews. The contribution of the Belgians, however, has not received the attention it deserves. The behavior of the Belgian people may be regarded as the expression of what perhaps should be the normal human behavior of a civilized nation sustained in the face of Nazi occupation.

The Jews comprised only about one percent of the total population of Belgium and the great majority of these Jews were relative newcomers. When the Nazis occupied Belgium, many Jews guessed what lay in store for them and they reacted quickly. Jewish organizations, institutions and political parties displayed, generally speaking, resourcefulness, organizational ability and courage and thereby saved the lives of thousands of people. While none of this could have been achieved without the substantial help and support of non-Jewish Belgian organizations and institutions, the initiative came from the Jews themselves.

*This article is part of a larger work on Belgian Jewry during the Holocaust (forthcoming).


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