David Koker | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Koker 27 November 1921 |
| Died | 23 February 1945 (aged 23) |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | Student |
| Notes | |
He wrote a diary during his stay in Camp Vught[1] | |
David Koker (27 November 1921 - 23 February 1945)[2][3] was a Jewish student who lived with his family in Amsterdam until he was captured on the night of 11 February 1943 and transported to camp Vught.
David was forced to halt his studies in philosophy and history in September 1941 when the university ceased allowing Jews to study. The family did not go into hiding because they had received an exemption and believed they were safe. Still, in 1943, they were captured and transported to Camp Vught on 11 February. David spent some of his time teaching children at the camp. In July, he received a Sperre (temporary exemption from deportation) from Frits Philips and joined his "Philips Commandos". In June 1944, the "Philips-Jews" were transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, from where they would be sent to other camps to work for electronics companies.
David's mother and brother Max survived the war. David, however, fell ill and died during a transfer of ill people to the Dachau concentration camp due in part to his illness as well as hypothermia in February 1945. His father died of exhaustion in LangenBilau, a subcamp of Groß-Rosen.
Koker had published in 1941 Modern-Hebreeuwse poëzie. The booklet (87 pages) was a bilingual edition of modern Hebrew poetry, with translations in Dutch. The co-translator was J. Melkman, pseudonym of Jozeph Michman (1914-2009). It was published by Joachimsthal in Amsterdam.
- ^ "Diary of David Koker". Nmkampvught.nl. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ "The Philips-Kommando in Camp Vught about David Koker". Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ "David Koker". Joodsmonument.nl. 27 November 1921. Retrieved 2013-02-14.