Illustrated report of memories of the deported men and boys of Diepenbeekstraat by the occupying forces in Antwerp. Collection

Digital copy available as collection KD_01012 at Kazerne Dossin Research Centre During World War II, Van Diepenbeekstraat in Antwerp, Belgium, played a significant role in the Nazi occupation. The street became a site where the Nazi occupiers gathered individuals who refused to work for the German war effort, commonly known as work refusers or work evaders. These individuals were detained in Van Diepenbeekstraat before being deported to Germany for forced labor. The deportation of work refusers from Van Diepenbeekstraat was part of the Nazi regime's efforts to enforce labor mobilization policies and suppress resistance in occupied territories. The conditions in the detainment facility were often harsh, with individuals facing overcrowding, limited access to food and sanitation, and the constant threat of deportation to labor camps in Germany. Despite the risks, there were instances of resistance and solidarity among the detainees and local residents. Families and individuals attempted to support their loved ones by providing them with food, sending secret letters, and even attempting to pass train keys to aid in escape during deportation. Contact Kazerne Dossin Research Centre: archives@kazernedossin.eu The collection features an illustrated report titled "Geïllustreerde reportage: Herinneringen aan onze Weggevoerden der Van Diepenbeekstraat te Antwerpen" ("Illustrated Report: Memories of Our Deported from Van Diepenbeekstraat in Antwerp"). This report sheds light on a significant historical event during the Nazi occupation, wherein work refusers were gathered in the Van Diepenbeekstraat and subsequently deported to Germany. The seven-page report includes four compelling photographs depicting the building used by the Germans for this purpose. Accompanying the visuals is a detailed narrative explaining the events that transpired, as well as accounts of the ingenious ways in which individuals attempted to aid their detained family members. These efforts included clandestine communication through secret letters and the provision of food, as well as daring attempts to pass train keys to aid escape during deportation to the east.