Testimonies of young people in wartime

Where war rages, children are often the first victims. Because they have to flee with their parents and siblings, live in fear, go hungry, lose their parents or perish themselves. That was true in World War II, it is still true today. According to War Child, by 2023, 230 million children worldwide are growing up in areas of war and armed conflict.

Testimonies of wartime children can be found in diaries, drawings, or things related to their deaths: prayer cards, items of clothing left behind. The war deprived these children of their future.

Here are a few examples that are reflected in the exhibition "Young people in the firing line," on display in the Stevenskerk in Nijmegen from Oct. 1 to 23. Also featuring an interview with Mehrzad Joussefi, 16 years old, child of refugees, about war, freedom and his wishes for the future.

Annie de Vos (age 15, 1944)

"A hundred bombs and shells
And an army of soldiers
I'd rather devour entirely
Before I'll forget you."

These words Annie de Vos, then 12 years old, wrote in 1941 in the poetry album of a school friend. Three years later, on February 22, 1944, she went from school with a cousin into the city center of Nijmegen. Taking food stamps away to an uncle? Looking at a photo of the niece in a shop window in Houtstraat? Buying gingerbread at bakery Van Belt on that same street? No one knows exactly.
Bombs from American planes devastate an important part of Nijmegen's upper city that afternoon. Desperately, father Gerard, a plumber from Hazelaarstraat, searches for his daughter. In vain. Nothing is found of Annie and her niece. Her parents are left torn and full of grief. Annie is their only child. "Don't forget me," Annie has written in the corners of the poetry album.

Ton van Lith (age 15, 1944)

At the beginning of the Krayenhofflaan in Nijmegen lives 15-year-old Ton van Lith. His father is a grain merchant. When Nijmegen is finally free, he wants to go into town. At home they don't think this is such a good idea, but after the necessary "fuss" he is allowed to go out anyway. Ton sees how NSB members, the supporters of the Germans, are dragged out of their houses. They walk the streets carrying signs that say "I am a ploert."
Near his house, near the Hezelpoort, are two burned-out German buses and in the gutter is ammunition. A little further on he sees a broken down British armored car. In his diary, Ton records his experience of the war.

Robbie Oostendorp (2 years, 1944)

Robbie Oostendorp is living with his parents, brother and sister on Ruisdaelstraat in Nijmegen when the Americans land in Groesbeek on Sept. 17, 1944.
He is two and a half years old. In the following days, shells fall near his home, houses everywhere catch fire. After two anxious days in the cellar, the parents flee with their children to an air-raid shelter in Bottendaal.
When the Waal bridges are captured, they dare to greet the liberators on September 21. The little boy on his wooden shoes achieves great success with the Americans and British. He sticks out his tongue when asked about the Germans. The English can count on enthusiasm: both his hands go up and the toddler shouts, "Hooray, goodbye. An Englishman is moved and kisses him on both cheeks. Nijmegen is free, but not yet liberated from war.

Sima Nabavi (11 years, 2020)

Sima Nabavi is a grade 8 student at an elementary school for underprivileged children in Kabul, Afghanistan, run by the IEAF Foundation.
She does not have an easy life. She suffers from leukemia; her father died. Together with her mother, she takes care of the family, including selling embroidery fabrics. Thanks to her perseverance, she succeeds in school.

At age 11, Sima writes a story about a caged dove of peace that cannot fly because its wings are fighting among themselves. Only by working together do the wings learn to fly. This is how she gives her perspective on the situation in Afghanistan and she draws her own pictures to go with it.
In 2020, Sima, age 11, dies of leukemia. Because of the war in her country, there are insufficient care facilities. Otherwise, she might still be alive today.