The 10th of May, 1940, World War 2, the Netherlands. Nazi Germany invades Holland and the German Air Forces – the Luftwaffe – use paratroopers in the capture of tactical points and to assist in the advance of ground troops across the country. The invasion is accompanied by heavy aerial bombardment of Rotterdam and culminates on the 14th of May with the destruction of its entire historic center. Because the Germans threaten to bomb the city of Utrecht in the same way, the Dutch forces surrender one day later. Soon after the Nazis start to occupy the whole country and pass new anti-Jewish laws which are designed to exclude Jewish people from society and restrict their livelihood. The systematic deportations of Dutch Jews to death camps start in July 1942. Many Jews go into hiding but the possibility of their survival is reduced by the presence of “Jew-hunters” who are tempted by the lure of monetary rewards. One such Jew-Hunter is Ans van Dijk. <br /><br /><br />The sign ‘Forbidden for Jews’ appeared on the doors and gates of cafes, swimming pools, sports fields, museums, zoos, libraries, theatres, markets and many other public places. Jews had to hand over their valuables, and their businesses were confiscated. Such was also a case of a shop owned by Ans van Dijk who had to close it in November 1941. After that, in order to conceal herself, she dyed her hair blond and managed to obtain a false identity card in the name of Alphonsia Maria Annie de Jong. <br />Her friend Miep Stodel fled to Switzerland in July of the following year. <br /><br />Regulations which forced Jews to wear a yellow Star of David on their clothing as a means of identification were announced in the Netherlands on the 29th of April 1942. Those caught without the badge after the 5th of May, when they came into effect, were arrested, and detained for a six-week period to serve at Mauthausen. In the Netherlands everyone knew that this was a death sentence. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Prenteding to be a member of the illegal resistance organization “Free Nederlands”, she offered to help Jews find hiding places and obtain false papers. Van Dijk convinced dozens of Jews that she sought to help them. Instead, she betrayed their hiding places to Schaap, who in turn had the Jews arrested. Her house at Jekerstraat street in Amsterdam served as a trap. <br /><br />The previously rather shy woman with little self-confidence blossomed through her work for the bureau. In addition, she received praise and recognition for every person who got caught by the Germans with her help. <br />Within a couple of months of making her arrangement with Schaap, van Dijk found herself at the head of a group of women hunting Jews. Among these women were Rosalie Roozendaal... <br />
