My personal favorite story to come out of WW2. A story of bravery and courage, even though it would cost them everything. Corrie ten Boom and her family run a watch shop in Haarlem, Holland, a store that had been passed through the family for 100 years. In fact, Corrie was the first official female watchmaker in the Netherlands. But, Corrie and her family would be know for much more than their skill of watchmaking
On May 10th 1940, Germany captured Holland, and began to persecute the Jews who restarted in the country. They shut down their businesses, and only gave food cards to those who weren’t Jews. The ten Boom family were devout Christians, and believed that the Jews were God’s chosen people, and they felt called to help their Jewish neighbors. The ten Boom build a Secret room inside Corrie’s closet, called the “Hiding Place.” Whenever the nazis were near the home, the Jews would go into the Secret room. However, the ten Booms were arrested after rumors spread about them hiding Jews, but the Jews were never found. Corrie’s father, brother, and sister died while in concentration camp. Corrie was released the Day after Christmas 1945 after being in prison for 10 months.
Afterward, Corrie told her and her family’s story, and created a house for Jews and other Holocaust survivors to heal from their trauma. Corrie went all over the world proclaiming the goodness of God, and even was given the opportunity to reconnect and forgive one of the soldiers who beat her and her sister while in concentration camp. Corrie died on her 91st birthday, in 1983.
The story is beautiful, and proves how God can take everything situation, and turn it for good! Here’s “The Hiding Place,” by Corrie ten Boom and “The Watchmakers daughter” by Larry Loftis. A movie was made about the ten Booms in 1975 called “The Hiding Place.” What a wonderful story!
