Tina Strobos

This blog has already mentioned a few selfless women who sheltered Jewish citizens during the holocaust, but there is always room for one more kind woman who deserves a little recognition for endangering her own life to save others. Tina Strobos was physician and child psychologist who was living in Amsterdam during World War II when the Nazi Germans occupied The Netherlands. Tina, her mother, and her grandmother, set up the attic of the boarding house they owned as a secret refuge for Jews fleeing persecution. There were able to keep four or five refugees at a time and also built a secret compartment a couple of people could squeeze into in case of a raid or search. Tina also helped bring food, supplies, and information to Jews hiding in other parts of the city or in the countryside so they would not have to risk being seen to find food and would know when it was safe to run. She transferred weapons and radios for the Dutch resistance and used a radio to send secret messages to Great Britain. Her dangerous work caused her to be questioned by the Gestapo nine times, but she was always released. Tina Strobos and her family managed to save the lives of over a hundred Jewish people, not to mention the aid she lent to those that didn’t stay in her home and to those who were striving to oust the Nazi regime from the country. Her courage and compassion made a difference to a lot of people and an important impact on history.

Today, be inspired to…Built a tradition of charity with your family. Maybe do something with your mom and grandmother, or maybe instill the value of compassion in your daughter or granddaughter’s life.

Photo credit: db.yadvashem.org