Listen: Pastoorstraat

Before the Second World War, Arnhem was home to a large Jewish community. Following the German invasion in 1940, the suffering for this section of the population began in Arnhem too. It started with minor harassment. For example, Jews were no longer allowed to go into Sonsbeek Park, or to buy an ice cream at the famous Trio ice cream parlour. Soon the bullying became more vicious. Jewish municipal officers were fired from their jobs. Jews were no longer allowed to practise their profession. And there was violence too. In 1941, Jewish shops were looted and attempts were made to set fire to the synagogue. And then the transportations to labour and extermination camps began. The synagogue served as an assembly point for Jews from all over the province of Gelderland. Towards the end of 1942, there were no more Jews left in Arnhem. The Germans were using the synagogue for storing radios they had confiscated. Of the more than 2,000 Jews from Arnhem, approximately half perished during the Holocaust.