CHAPTER ONE

Fall 1939– Before the Germans came

In 1939, Rossum was a small town by Dutch standards with a population of about 1,200 people. Located about an hour south of Amsterdam in the province of Gelderland, it was bordered by the Waal River to its north and the Maas River to its south. These two slow-moving rivers wound their way across the Netherlands, providing shipping routes to the inland cities. On the east side of Rossum, the rivers met through a one-kilometre canal with locks that provided ships and barges access from one river’s level to the other. The dyke along this canal was one of Sussie’s favourite spots to play and relax.

The town of Rossum was typical of those in the region with its beautiful gardens and well-kept houses. Neighbours were friends or relatives and everyone helped each other when needed. Willem and Gerdina (Geert) Cretier were a typical small-town Dutch couple. They grew up in Rossum and were married there in 1931. They lived in a small brick house near the centre of town, about a five-minute walk from the dyke on the Waal River. Their lives were simple and their family was the most important element of each day. Their son Kees was born in 1932. Their daughter Everdina was born two years later in May 1934 and son Gerard was born in 1935.

When Everdina was a baby, Kees loved to push her pram when the family went for walks. If people asked his sister’s name, Kees could not say‘Everdina,’ so he just said,“Zusje, I have a Zusje,” the Dutch word for‘sister.’ This name evolved into Sussie and later became Sue. Sussie was a bright, energetic child whose fighting spirit and enthusiasm for life would stay with her through the years.

Willem was the provider for the Cretier family and was well known in the region for his mechanical expertise. People came from far away to ask him to service their vehicles. His brick workshop was small but it was well built in a common style from that period, with two layers of brick separated by a cavity of air that served as insulation. The shop had a tile roof and was close to their home, which was built in the same style. Willem enjoyed the convenience of working so close to his house, walking only a few metres to get to work. He was a tidy man and had a superbly organized workshop.

Willem also owned a half share in a small local bus company. Willem serviced the buses and his partner, a bus driver, was responsible for their operation. The incomes from these two jobs provided well for Willem and his family.

Willem Cretier was a gentle man who could be stern with his children when necessary. Sussie and her brothers were not allowed inside Willem’s shop unless they agreed to sit very still and watch their