In the annals of World War II heroism, stories of daring raids and daring escapes often steal the spotlight. Yet, beneath the radar, countless acts of quiet courage unfolded, ordinary people risking everything to fight back against Nazi barbarity.One such individual is Johan van Hulst, a Dutch school director whose simple act of defiance saved hundreds of Jewish children from the horrors of the Holocaust.
A Shepherd Protecting His Flock
Van Hulst wasn't a soldier or a spy. He was an educator, a man devoted to nurturing young minds. Yet, when the Nazis occupied the Netherlands and began their systematic persecution of Jews, van Hulst refused to be a bystander. The Hollandsche Schouwburg, a nearby theater, became a notorious holding center for Jews awaiting deportation to concentration camps. But nestled within its walls was also a nursery – and van Hulst saw an opportunity.