WESTERBORK - The second stage of The Police and the Holocaust project brought participants to the Westerbork Memorial in the Netherlands, marking a key moment of international exchange within the European-funded initiative.
Police officers from Germany and Austria were joined by colleagues from the Netherlands, including representatives of the Dutch Police Academy and the Association of Jewish Police Officers in the Netherlands. Under the guidance of the Westerbork Memorial’s educational staff, participants explored the complex role of Dutch police forces during the German occupation—ranging from collaboration to acts of resistance.
Discussions led by the project coordinators focused on whether core principles of policing can transcend historical periods and political systems. These conversations sparked lively debate, particularly around the concept of “neutrality” in the context of shifting norms and increasing radicalization in public discourse across Europe today.
From Westerbork to Poland
The visit to the former transit camp at Westerbork also served as a bridge to the program’s upcoming study tour in Poland, scheduled for May 2025. From Westerbork, more than 107,000 Dutch Jews were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sobibor.
During the Poland component, participants will visit Sobibor and other sites in southeastern Poland to further examine the role of police forces in Nazi crimes and to reflect on the responsibilities tied to this history.
A Personal Encounter in Appelbergen
Following their visit to Westerbork, participants traveled to Appelbergen, a site that allowed them to engage with the consequences of Nazi occupation crimes on a deeply personal level.
There, the group met Euwe de Jong, who shared the story of his family at a memorial stone near a remote pond in the surrounding marshland. In May 1943, Dutch workers went on strike to protest the conscription of former prisoners of war for forced labor in Nazi Germany. During the unrest, local youths—including Euwe’s father, Foppe—blocked a road to stop a police convoy.
In retaliation, Johann Mechels, an Ordnungspolizei officer from Bremen, ordered the execution of 16 randomly arrested Dutch civilians without trial, including Euwe’s grandfather. Their bodies were buried in the nearby forest marshes. While Mechels continued his police career near the Dutch border after the war, Foppe de Jong carried feelings of guilt throughout his life, speaking of his involvement only shortly before his death—despite bearing no responsibility for the crime.
Participants described the conversation with Euwe de Jong as profoundly impactful, bringing home the long-lasting human consequences of police violence and impunity.
Looking Ahead
The two-day workshop in Westerbork combined intensive historical study with reflection on contemporary policing challenges. The project is accompanied by an independent scientific evaluation.
The Police and the Holocaust will continue in January 2025 with meetings in Vienna, focusing on the role of Austrian police during the Holocaust and engaging directly with Vienna’s Jewish community and the Ministry of the Interior on the importance of protecting Jewish institutions today and in the future.
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
