Headline: War Archives Shock: Family Names Pulled Offline, Including Resistance Hero
The names of thousands of individuals from the Central Archive of Special Law Enforcement (CABR), known for their involvement during the German occupation, have been removed from online databases, causing distress among Dutch families. The CABR, containing around 425,000 names, faced criticism this week as some relatives found beloved family members listed, including resistance heroes like Hendrik van Triest from Geeuwenbrug.
Rob van Triest, a descendant, discovered his great-great-grandfather’s name in the archive. "It’s quite painful, knowing he harbored an undercover agent," he said.Rob doubted his relative’s involvement, referencing a 1945 Trouw newspaper article that praised Hendrik for his bravery in helping a Mr. G.A. Bruinsma escape from a German penal camp. "There’s a typo in Bruinsma’s article; it’s Hendrik, not J. van Triest," Rob clarified.
According to the National Archives, errors exist in the list, with some individuals wrongfully labeled as collaborators. Names were removed due to a lack of associated dossiers or where people were merely witnesses, not suspects. The archives confirmed receiving varying reactions, from shock to relief, from people discovering familiar names.
Hendrik van Triest was initially marked as a suspect, but no dossier linked to his name could be found. Rob, while pleased to see his ancestor removed from the list, wonders why. "I just want clarity," he stated.
Currently, onlinevisitorn can see who’s on the collaborator list, but not if they were convicted. To access full dossiers, a visit to the National Archives’ study hall in The Hague is required, making archives inaccessible to many.
Rob van Triest advocates for the entire archive’s digital accessibility. "There’s much to uncover about Geeuwenbrug and Diever during the war," he said. "If the archive were fully open, we could research further. As it stands, it only creates confusion."
This ongoing saga serves as a poignant reminder of the Netherlands’ complex wartime past and the complexities of preserving historical records in a digital age.
