(1/10) On 24-05-1892 Catharina Godefroi, or Cato as she was called, was born in Amsterdam. She married in 1922, at the age of 30, to Dolf de Levita, born 23-06-1868.
They lived in Amsterdam.
In 1923 they had their first child, Frank. He had a brain disease and was blind.
(2/10) He died very young. When David, their 2nd son, was born in 1926 their joy knew no bounds and they really spoiled the boy. On 19-01-1928 son Frans was born and on 19-05-1931 Henri.
In 1934 Dolf died of a heart attack.
(3/10) She then took care of the children ánd took a job as a diamond worker. A profession that entailed having to live in highly variable financial circumstances.
They were depending on the economic situation of the moment increasing or decreasing the need for diamonds.
(4/10) Cato thought of nothing but their importance and completely ignored herself. There was no money for holidays, but she solved that by sending her children to the JOodse ZEe en BOs KOlonie (JOZEBOKO), so Jewish sea and forest colony in Katwijk aan Zee.
(5/10) The children had a wonderful childhood until the deportations started in 1942. In July 1942 David had to report for the 'arbeidseinsatz'. Cato went to a neighbor and he arranged a job for David as a courier at the Jewish Council. So he got a so called 'sperre'.
(6/10) Cato also got a sperre because she was a diamond worker and therefor was still useful for the Germans. In May 1943 a friend of David went into hiding. David went to stay with him to say goodbye. The next day he wanted to go back home, but the whole neighborhood was closed.
(7/10) This was the raid of 26-05-1943. When he finally could go home the house was empty. His mother and brothers were gone. But later that day Frans came home. He had taken of his star of David, took his cello and walked past the guards saying he had to give a concert.
(8/10) Cato and Henri were killed on 04-06-1943 in #Sobibor.😢
Frans📷 and David spent a while together but later split up and went both into hiding separately.
Frans got 'arrested' in 1944 and on 25-01-1944 he was deported to Auschwitz where he died on 31-05-1944.😢
(9/10) David survived the war in hiding. He became a child psychiatrist and a professor. In his job he helped many children who survived the holocaust.
He wrote a book about his family and his live.
As he becomes older he more and more feels guilty.
Why did he survive???
(10/10) His mother did everything for him but he could never thank her for that.
The (translated) story of Cato on Sobibor.org:
translate.google.com/translate?hl=n…
Cato, we will remember you as a loving mother. We will also remember both your sons Henri and Frans.😢💔🕯️✡️
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.