In 2000 when Alfred
traced the tracks of his
Dutch exile, he recalled
how he was arrested as a
twelve year old boy, and
how the SS men stormed
up the stairs. To this day
he still hears the jangling
of their hobnailed boots on
the concrete staircase.
The whole time we were prepared in case they would arrest us; our backpack was
packed with clothes and medicine for emergencies, like charcoal pills, which were
considered especially useful. And really it happened: One night in the spring of 1943 the
Nazis stopped during their raid at number 16, Boerhaave Plain. We were very flustered
and asked the two girls to get into their hiding place. Then we heard the SS men with
their jangling hobnailed boots coming up the concrete staircase. They
banged at the door, arrested us and hauled us off to the Schouwburg.
