The Resisters Research Project by RACHEL YANG

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ry9669918_ — 2024-04-17 20:12:00 UTC

A documentary of the Oversteegen sisters' story and what they did to help the Jews back in WW2.

“It was a necessary evil, killing those who betrayed the good people.” - Freddie Oversteegen

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-17 20:15:13 UTC

Freddie and her sister did inhumane treacherous things to other humans however they only did it because the Nazis were much more vicious and betrayed the good people's trust.

Freddie Oversteegen: Her story

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-17 20:22:13 UTC

Freddie Oversteegen was born to a single mother in the Netherlands in 1925. Her mother taught her and her sister, Truus, about the importance of fighting injustice and communism. When Europe was on the brink of war, Freddie and her family took in Jewish refugees who escaped from Europe. Not only that, they also passed out Anti-Nazi papers and pamphlets out to the public.

When Freddie was 14, some recruiters from the Haarlem Resistance group alongside her sister, Truus. Together they went on many dangerous missions even luring a Nazi soldier into a forest and shooting him once. Later on, the sisters mainly focused on killing Dutch collaborators that put Jewish lives in danger. Freddie participated in many lookout missions as it was her specialty, because Freddie looked so young and unsuspecting for her age, it made it much easier for her to blend in with the crowd.

Photo of Freddie Oversteegen

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 15:24:34 UTC

Photo of Freddie Oversteegen posing alongside Hannie Schaft and a man while holding a gun

The Oversteegens' Aftermath

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:09:59 UTC

After the war, the girls dealt with trauma for assassinating so many people and even gained insomnia from their days of slaughter. Truus went on to create sculptures and later frequently spoke about their days in the resistance. Freddie on the other hand, coped with the trauma by getting married and having off-spring. Both girls lived very long and full lives and passed at the age of 92. Truus passed away in 2016 while Freddie passed in 2018 just a day before her 93 birthday. In 2014, they were both nationally recognized for their past achievements and were rewarded with Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis, or “War Mobilization Cross".

Benefits of looking youthful: a photo of Freddie

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:17:16 UTC

Due to her innocence and youthful appearance, Freddie Oversteegen made it very easy to trick the Nazis. These benefits allowed her to track and follow Nazi soldiers .

The Impact the Sisters made:

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:27:52 UTC

The Oversteegen sisters both gave so much help towards the Jews, helping them survive and leading to the death of many Nazis. They also helped find and provide shelters for Jewish refugees. Not only that they also helped sabotage Nazi supplies and destroyed Nazi transportation. All in all, the sisters saved lives and put evil to justice.

Their loss: Hannie Schaft

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:29:11 UTC

In 1943, the sisters met with another young woman named Hannie Schaft. Not long after, they all became best friends and would accompany each other on missions. Together, they would form a sabotage and assassination cell. However this camaraderie didn't last long. In 1945, Hannie was arrested and killed just 3 weeks after the war had ended in Europe. According to the rumors and lore that circulated, Hannie's last words were "I'm a better shot".

The Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis award

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:30:26 UTC

The year 2014 brought recognition to the sisters and they were nationally recognized for their service to their country. The sister received the Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis, or “War Mobilization Cross" for their achievements in World War 2.

Caught in a Interview: Freddie Oversteegen

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:36:58 UTC

When Freddie was finally being recognized for her work, she started being interview by broadcasting stations for her experiences in the resistance back in WW2. This image illustrates her during that interview while she was in her 90s.

Freddie Oversteegen: Before the war

ry9669918_ — 2024-04-18 19:44:03 UTC

Freddie and her sister, Truus, grew up in the city of Haarlem with a single working-class mother who tried her best to provide for them. Their mother considered herself a communist and taught the girls the importance of justification to evil. While on the brink of war, the Oversteegens would take in Jewish refugees as a way to help. They would even put up anti-Nazi papers and press to bring awareness.