Johan Van Hulst
The resister who saved hundreds of universes.
Johan Van Hulst should be a part of the national Holocaust museum.
When Johan's story as a resistor started when he was just a school principle running a school called "The Reformed Teachers' Training College" in Amsterdam. Johan had worked up the chain of command in the school after receiving funding opportunities for the school.
Even after financial pressure when the Nazis invaded in 1942, Johan continued to use the school to help people but with another more important purpose.
This purpose would lead to be, one of the most important events in Johan's life, and what he would be remembered for, for generations to come.
This picture shows the Nazis invading France, in 1942.
Johan's School
This is a picture of What his school looks like now on the left, which is now the National Holocaust Remembrance Museum, and the before on the right.
In the next slide we will learn about the second purpose that Johan used this school for.
The Museum was opened on April 22, 1993.
The Job
Johan and his team would hide Jewish kids from the deportation center just across the street inside the school like a safe haven.
He and his team would then come up with a way to transport them away to safe houses to live with other families until the war was over.
Or until they were caught.
The Sacrifice
Of course Johan's job did not come without risks and consequences, and a heavy price on his own health and safety.
In the days of coming Johan would be plagued by his inability to do more to help all the other children he couldn't save.
“You realize that you cannot possibly take all the children with you. You know for a fact that the children you leave behind are going to die. I took twelve with me. Later on I asked myself: ‘Why not thirteen?’”
This picture is from the Auschwitz Death Camp.
Life Accomplishments
Even after all of these events Johan still made a name for himself becoming a featured main character in a book about him and his team's mission called, "Over the Hedge."
He was also a Dutch senator for 25 years and was awarded with the "Righteous among nations award." Awarded to non-Jewish people who helped save Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
He also won a prestigious chess tournament at the age of 99.
His Impact, and Happy Ever After?
After all of this Johan, and his team's operation ended up saving at least 600 Jewish children thanks to his sacrifice.
Johan then settled down with his family with the regret of not having saved more people during his time as a resistor.
He died on March 22, 2018 at the age of 107.
I hope this presentation leaves you feeling educated about Johan story, and his fight to do more. Thank you, and Thank you Johan.
