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Menno was born on February 5, 1938, in Amsterdam, Holland. His father had worked for a large trading firm and had moved the family from Frankfurt to Holland due to the rise of Hitler. Menno’s maternal grandparents owned a butcher store in Holland. In May 1940, German troops overran the Netherlands, and by May 1942, all Dutch Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David.
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Despite the occupation, Dutch Gentiles remained supportive of the Jewish population, treating them with respect.
During the first half of 1942, Jewish schools were closed, and restrictions were placed on Jews' daily lives. Employment opportunities became scarce, and Jews were forbidden to own bicycles or motorcars, use public transportation, or make phone calls.
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A strict curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. was imposed, and Jews could only shop during limited hours and in designated stores. By February 1942, Jews had lost control of their assets and were stripped of their possessions. Continuous raids resulted in many Jews being deported and shot.
In July 1942, Menno’s father convinced his mother to go into hiding. They gave up everything: their personal identity, property, home, family, and friends.
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Menno's father connected with non-Jews in the underground resistance, who helped hide them. His aunt, uncle, and maternal grandparents also went into hiding, but his grandparents were caught in 1944 and taken to Theresienstadt before being sent to Auschwitz.
Menno and his family lived in 14 different locations from July 1942 until their liberation in early 1945, sometimes together and sometimes apart.
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They hid in various places, including the villages of Olderbrook, Zwolle, Venlo, and Tienray. They slept in the back of closets, chicken coops, barns, fake wood piles, and even the woods. At one point, they stayed in a convent where Menno attended school and sang in the choir. Their time in hiding was filled with close calls, constantly staying one step ahead of the SS.
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Menno’s mother became increasingly brave, even dyeing her hair red and riding a bicycle with Menno on the back. Their lives were saved thanks to two non-Jewish members of the Dutch underground, Nico Dohmen and Hanna van de Voort, both of whom were later honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Gentiles. The family was liberated by British soldiers in 1945.
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After liberation, Menno and his family were transported by the British to Eindhoven, where they were placed in a mental institution and treated poorly. Eventually, they made their way back to Amsterdam, only to find that their apartment was gone. Menno and his family later emigrated to the United States, starting a new chapter in their lives.
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Menno Ratzker interview at Miami Beach Senior High - 2023-2024
Miami Beach Senior High
