"Realize how precious freedom is!

Four questions for Eva Weyl

Eva Weyl arrived at the Westerbork transit camp with her parents in January 1942 as a 6-year-old German/Jewish girl. They survived World War II. In Dutch and German schools she still tells the story of the Holocaust today. On May 9, she will be honored in Nijmegen as Grenzland-Europäer 2023 during Europe Day, organized by the PvdA and the SPD.

What is the most important lesson from the past?
"To schoolchildren I say, that we have to know the past in order to be able to work on a better future. They can often hardly understand, why emphasis is placed on World War II, because they think every war has the same degree of destruction. Then I explain that never before has the extermination of an entire people been prepared in this way: planned for two years, trials conducted in closed trucks with exhaust fumes, until they knew how to murder large numbers of people at once in gas chambers. Murder was industrialized with killing factories. That has never happened before in history and it must never happen again."

What message do you have for school youth?
"Realize how precious FREEDOM is! You only realize what a precious possession it is when it is taken away from you, I have experienced that. Freedom of speech cannot be taken for granted. Hitler had gagged everyone, including his supporters. Democracy no longer existed. Make the case for tolerance. Fight against any form of racism, discrimination, intolerance. Let your feelings speak when following debatable orders."

How do you view the war in Ukraine?
"It is a nightmare for me personally. I am bewildered, that this could happen. Bewildered also again, how the world is watching, just like in 1939 when Hitler occupied Poland. I feel very sorry for the Ukrainians. They can never stand up to Russia, in my opinion. I feel powerless and am afraid, very afraid that this is going to escalate."

How do you view the discussion about the reception of refugees?
"I am not surprised by the attitude of the Netherlands, which does not differ from that of almost all Western countries. I strongly disapprove of it. We are a rich country, we also have an obligation under the Geneva Convention to provide a secure shelter for refugees. I am so sorry that the EU does not have a central executive voice. I support the EU idea very much, but I realize, that it is very difficult to get all countries on the same page."


For more information about Eva Weyl: www.verhalenoverdeoorlog.nl/nl/interviews/eva-weyl