How America failed European Jews during the Holocaust
August 23, 2023 / 1:38 PM / CBS/AFP
Eighty years after his execution by Nazi occupiers, Dutch forensic investigators have finally identified the mysterious remains of a man as that of a Jewish resistance hero named Bernard Luza, investigators said Wednesday.
Luza, 39, was shot by firing squad in 1943 after he and hundreds of other Jews and their relatives were arrested following a raid on a factory in northern Amsterdam on November 11, 1942.
His body was discovered in 1945 in a grave with four others, buried at a shooting range near Schiphol Airport. Two of the bodies were quickly identified as Theodorus Cramer and Carel Abraham, and a third body was identified in 2013. But the two others, including that of Luza, remained a mystery.
Since 2013, Luza’s remains have been buried in a nameless grave at the National Field of Honor in Loenen, Dutch officials said.
“Now, through the use of DNA technology employed in a relationship study, his (Luza’s) remains were finally identified,” said Geert Jonker, head of the Dutch defense ministry’s forensic unit specializing in identifying human remains.
“It happened after a cousin of Luza was traced in Australia,” Jonker told AFP.
“After more than 80 years, his relatives finally have certainty about the fate of their missing family member. We are happy that we could give Luza’s relatives some clarity on what happened to him,” Jonker said.
Luza, a member of the Dutch Communist Party and People’s Militia, joined the resistance after the May 10, 1940 Nazi occupation.
“Seen as the leader of a resistance group, Luza was accused of distributing an illegal underground newspaper and calling on people to commit sabotage,” the defense ministry said in a statement.
“He was sentenced to death after his arrest in late 1942 and a last appeal for clemency was turned down,” it said.
Luza was executed on Feb. 15, 1943, by firing squad.
His wife, Clara, and young daughter Eva were murdered in the Sobibor concentration camp after the raid. They were killed just two months after receiving a farewell letter that Luza wrote them before he was executed, officials said.
His father Solomon and five of his brothers and sisters also perished in the Auschwitz and Sobibor death camps.
More than 100,000 Dutch Jews were killed during World War II.
The identification of Bernard Luza’s remains serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the failure of America to provide sufficient assistance to European Jews during this dark period in history. Despite being aware of the persecution and genocide taking place, the United States did not take significant action to rescue or provide refuge for Jewish individuals fleeing Nazi-occupied territories.
The American government implemented restrictive immigration policies, such as the Immigration Act of 1924, which severely limited the number of immigrants allowed into the country, particularly from Eastern Europe. These policies were influenced by anti-Semitic sentiments and xenophobia prevalent at the time.
Additionally, the United States did not prioritize the rescue of European Jews during World War II. The government was aware of the mass extermination of Jews in concentration camps, yet failed to take decisive action to intervene or provide assistance. The infamous Evian Conference in 1938, where countries discussed the issue of Jewish refugees, resulted in minimal commitments and no concrete solutions.
While there were individuals and organizations in America who actively worked to save Jewish lives, such as the War Refugee Board, their efforts were not enough to counteract the overall lack of action and support from the American government.
It is crucial to remember and acknowledge these failures in order to prevent history from repeating itself. The Holocaust stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of indifference and the importance of standing up against injustice and persecution.
As the world continues to grapple with the legacy of the Holocaust, it is essential to honor the memory of individuals like Bernard Luza, who sacrificed their lives in the fight against Nazi oppression. Their bravery and resilience serve as a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors.
The identification of Luza’s remains brings closure to his family and serves as a reminder of the countless lives lost and the need for continued remembrance and education about the Holocaust. It is a solemn reminder of the responsibility we all bear to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
How did Dutch forensic investigators use DNA technology to finally identify Bernard Luza’s remains?
Azi-occupied Europe.
Bernard Luza, a Jewish resistance hero, was executed by Nazi occupiers in 1943 after being arrested during a raid on a factory in Amsterdam. His body, along with four others, was discovered in 1945 at a shooting range near Schiphol Airport. While the other bodies were identified over the years, Luza’s remained a mystery until now.
Dutch forensic investigators used DNA technology in a relationship study to finally identify Luza’s remains. Through tracing a cousin in Australia, they were able to give Luza’s relatives certainty about his fate after more than 80 years.
Luza was a member of the Dutch Communist Party and People’s Militia and joined the resistance after the Nazi occupation. He was accused of distributing an illegal underground newspaper and calling for sabotage, leading to his death sentence.
Tragically, Luza’s wife Clara and young daughter Eva were murdered in the Sobibor concentration camp, just two months after receiving a farewell letter from Luza before his execution. His father and five brothers and sisters also perished in death camps.
The identification of Luza’s remains serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the failure of America to adequately assist European Jews during this dark period. Despite being aware of the persecution and genocide taking place, the United States did not take significant action to rescue or provide refuge for Jewish individuals fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe.
Over 100,000 Dutch Jews were killed during World War II, highlighting the devastating impact of the Holocaust on the Jewish community in the Netherlands. Luza’s story is just one of many, illustrating the immense loss and tragedy suffered by European Jews during this time.
It is important to remember and learn from these historical events to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. The identification of Luza’s remains brings some closure to his family, but it also serves as a reminder of the actions, or lack thereof, taken by countries and governments during the Holocaust.
This is a heart-wrenching reminder of the immense suffering endured during the Holocaust and the importance of never forgetting the victims.