Baby Otto Verdoner

The Verdoner Family - Gerrit and Hilde Verdoner, their children Yoka (b.1934), Francisca (b.1937) and Otto (b.1939) - were Jewish. In May 1940, when the Germans overran the Netherlands, Nazi decrees aimed specifically at Jews forced Gerrit out of his business and Yoka out of her second grade class. When the Nazis commandeered their home, the Verdoners went to live with Gerrit's parents in Amsterdam. Shortly thereafter, Gerrit and Hilde decided to place the children in hiding. Their foresight enabled the children to survive and save these family films. Hilde entered Westerbork on December 18, 1942, while Gerrit had a job with the Jewish Council. On September 29, 1943, after the collapse of the Jewish Council and Gerrit's narrow escape from the Germans, Gerrit found refuge in a hideout on a farm. On January 8, 1944 Hilde was sent to Auschwitz. After the war, Gerrit managed to reunite with his children and other surviving family members. The Verdoners emigrated to the US in 1946. Otto Verdoner, the youngest of the three Verdoner children is seen with a nurse, being taken out of his bassinette. Notes with original film indicate that Otto was 2 days old. VS, CU Otto in the arms of his mother Hilde Verdoner, lying in bed with Hilde. VS, of the nursemaid helping to take care of Otto and his mother. MCU, Yoka arranging the bassinette for her baby brother. CU, Otto crying in crib. VS, CUs, Otto takes a bath and changes diapers with the help of the nursemaid, Yoka and Francisca. Original notes with the film indicate that these images were shot over a period of two months. Otto is seen from the age of two days to the age of eight weeks in various daily activities in the life of a newborn. There is another woman who appears in the footage, possibly a family member or neighbor, she is not identified by name. She assists Hilde and plays with Yoka and Francisca, takes part in dressing Otto. VS, Francisca filling a bucket with water, having a minor tantrum.