Clinton News-Record, 1984-05-09, Page 66Sold friendship developed during WWII....
• from page 40
of a young Jewish giri, Anne Frank.
The 13 -year old girl and her family
spent two years in hiding, in
Amsterdam. It was there that Anne
wrote her world famous journals, Anne
Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl.
The Franks were discovered by the
Gestapo and Anne, at age 15, died in a
concentration camp. However, her
memory as a senstive, brave young
heroine still lives on in Holland,
Germany and throughout the world.
The story of Anne Frank which
vividly described the horrifying
existance during the height of World
War II, has aroused the sympathies of
many people and has managed to bring
and still maintain some peace and
understanding in the world.
Holland is freed,
Canadians arrive
Peace in Holland from World War II
came on April 16, 1945. The event is
known as the Liberation of Holland,
when soldiers from Canada put down
the German resistance. ,
Before the takeover, hiddenradios
spoke daily about the Canadians. Their
ability to overthrow the Germans
amazed the Dutch and the wartorn
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nation found instant heroes in the young
Canadian soldiers.
That moment when Holland was
freed from Hitler's rule has led to the
continuing friendship between Canada
and the Netherlands.,
It is that appreciation and those
terrifying memories of WWII that led
many Dutch to find a new life in
Canada.
To the land of opportunity
It was families like the Siertsemas
from Blyth, the Burumas and the de
Groots of Goderich Township that first
broke away from their Dutch heritage
to start a new life in Canada.
It was in the late 1940s that the
families sold their homes and furniture
and said goodbye to their livelihoods,
their friends and family, and set sale
.for the land of opportunity.
Parents crowded their young families,
into old cargo ships. They tossed and
turned in the crudely designed living
quarters for as many as 14 days as the
ships made their cross Atlantic
voyages. Few had the money to journey
to their new home by airplane: -
The Dutch people arrived in Canada,
tired, confused, frightened and often
disillusioned. People arrived weeks
Page 41
before their personal belongings.
Mothers, often pregnant or caring for
young babies were exhausted, children
were sick from the ocean voyage,
fathers were without work and unable
to speak the English language.
Still, the Dutch immigrants were an
enduring type of people. They knew
there was no turning back and despite
their poverty, language barriers and
cultural differences, the people strived
to make Canada their new home.
Canada at least offered opportunities,
wide open spaces and freedom.
This country, in the Dutch eyes was
the land of opportunity. Canada was a
country that was free from rigid
restrictions. It was a young country
that was waiting to be settled and
developed by enterprising,
hardworking people.
The Dutch were encouraged to settle
in Canada by their government. The
country was downcast after World War
II and the government, realizing a
dangerous situation, promoted
emigration to bright, prosperous
frontiers. Films and travelogues,
brochures, English lessons, even
subsidized travelling expenses
Turn to page 42.
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