ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Biographics Corrie Ten Boom – Saved estimated 800 lives during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
The Yad Vashem, also known as the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, honors non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. These brave individuals are given the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Today, we’re focusing on one such hero: Corrie ten Boom. Along with her family, she helped save around 800 lives during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Her strong religious faith and belief in God’s plans gave her the courage to face dangerous situations. However, her greatest achievement came after the war when she forgave her former enemies and taught others to do the same.
Corrie Arnolda Joanna ten Boom was born on April 15, 1892, in Haarlem, near Amsterdam. She grew up in a deeply religious family. Her father, Casper, was a watchmaker who ran his business from their home, known as the Beje house. Corrie was the youngest of four siblings, with two sisters, Betsie and Nollie, and a brother, Willem. Her parents were active members of the Dutch Baptist congregation and were moral leaders in their community. Inspired by their faith, the ten Booms offered shelter, food, and support to those in need, and they had strong ties with the local Jewish community, whom they saw as “God’s ancient people.”
From a young age, Corrie was involved in helping others. She organized Bible clubs for local youth and tutored children with disabilities. When her elderly aunts moved in, she helped care for them. To accommodate them, her father bought the neighboring house, creating a unique layout with winding staircases and hidden spaces—an important detail for the future.
In her late teens, Corrie experienced heartbreak when her first love was deemed unsuitable by his mother. She decided to dedicate her love to Jesus, saying, “Jesus has taken care so for me that I have never become a frustrated old spinster.” In 1918, her mother suffered a stroke, and Corrie took on more responsibilities, managing the household and the family business. She studied watchmaking and became the first licensed female watchmaker in the Netherlands, helping the family business succeed.
After her mother’s death in 1921, Corrie and her family focused on helping others. They welcomed children left behind by missionaries traveling to Indonesia and started a youth club for teenagers, teaching religious studies and crafts. However, the political climate in Europe was changing, and the threat of war was growing.
On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands, leading to a swift occupation. The ten Booms secretly listened to hopeful messages from the BBC on a hidden radio. As the Nazis intensified their persecution of Jews, the ten Booms faced a moral dilemma: their faith urged them to protect Jews, but joining the resistance was risky.
Corrie’s brother Willem and his son Kik joined the resistance, offering shelter to Jews. Casper ten Boom welcomed a Jewish orphan boy into their home, marking the start of their efforts to save lives. Corrie organized a network of volunteers and created a secret hiding place in her bedroom to shelter those in danger.
As the war continued, the ten Booms faced many challenges, including food shortages and the constant threat of being discovered. They used codes to communicate about hiding needs and managed to save many lives, including a daring rescue of infants from a Jewish orphanage.
In February 1944, the ten Booms were betrayed by a collaborator and arrested. Despite the harsh conditions of imprisonment, Corrie remained strong in her faith. After enduring months of interrogation and confinement, she and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, where they continued to organize prayer groups among the prisoners.
Betsie’s health worsened, and she passed away in December 1944. Corrie was released due to a clerical error shortly before all women of her age group were sent to the gas chambers. After the war, she dedicated herself to helping others, including former collaborators, and began to share her story of forgiveness.
Corrie ten Boom’s life was marked by her commitment to reconciliation and her belief in the power of forgiveness. She traveled extensively, sharing her experiences and promoting the message of healing and hope. Her book, “The Hiding Place,” published in 1971, further spread her message.
Corrie continued to speak until her health declined. She passed away peacefully on her 91st birthday, April 15, 1981. Her life story serves as a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of forgiveness.
We invite you to think about the moral complexities of punishment and forgiveness. Thank you for learning about Corrie ten Boom’s inspiring story.
Research another individual who was honored as Righteous Among the Nations. Prepare a short presentation about their contributions and how they helped during the Holocaust. Share your findings with the class to broaden everyone’s understanding of the different ways people showed courage during this time.
Create a timeline of Corrie ten Boom’s life, highlighting key events such as her early life, involvement in the resistance, imprisonment, and post-war activities. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline visually engaging. This will help you understand the sequence of events and the impact of her actions.
In groups, reenact a scene from Corrie ten Boom’s life, such as organizing the secret hiding place or a moment of forgiveness after the war. Discuss the emotions and motivations of each character involved. This activity will help you empathize with the challenges faced by Corrie and her family.
Write a reflective essay on the theme of forgiveness as demonstrated by Corrie ten Boom. Consider how forgiveness can be applied in your own life and the impact it can have on personal relationships and communities. Share your reflections with a partner to gain different perspectives.
Create an art piece that represents Corrie ten Boom’s legacy of courage and forgiveness. Use any medium you prefer, such as drawing, painting, or digital art. Display your artwork in the classroom and explain how it captures the essence of her story and message.
The Yad Vashem, or World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, honors non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Today’s focus is on one such individual: Corrie ten Boom. Along with her family, she helped save an estimated 800 lives during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Her deep religious faith and belief in God’s plans provided her with the courage and ingenuity to navigate perilous situations. However, it was after the war that she achieved her most significant accomplishment—forgiving her former enemies and teaching others to do the same.
Corrie Arnolda Joanna ten Boom was born in Haarlem, near Amsterdam, on April 15, 1892, into a devoutly religious family. Her father, Casper, was a watchmaker who operated his business from their home, the Beje house. Corrie was the youngest of four siblings: her sisters Betsie and Nollie, and her brother Willem. Her parents were active members of the Dutch Baptist congregation and served as moral guides for their community. Inspired by their faith, the ten Booms offered shelter, food, and support to those in need, maintaining strong relationships with the local Jewish community, whom they regarded as “God’s ancient people.”
From a young age, Corrie was involved in helping others, organizing Bible clubs for local youth and tutoring children with disabilities. When her elderly aunts moved in, she continued to care for them. To accommodate them, Casper purchased the neighboring house, leading to a unique layout with winding staircases and hidden spaces—an important detail for what was to come.
In her late teens, Corrie fell in love for the first time, but her heart was broken when her love was deemed unsuitable by his mother. She resolved to dedicate her love to Jesus, stating, “Jesus has taken care so for me that I have never become a frustrated old spinster.” In 1918, her mother suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and Corrie took on additional responsibilities, managing the household and the family business. She studied watchmaking and became the first licensed female watchmaker in the Netherlands, helping the family business thrive.
After her mother’s death in 1921, Corrie and her family turned their focus to helping those in need. They welcomed children left behind by missionaries traveling to Indonesia and established a youth club for teenagers, teaching religious studies and crafts. However, the political climate in Europe was changing, and the threat of war loomed.
On May 10, 1940, the German military launched an attack on the Netherlands, leading to a swift occupation. The ten Booms managed to keep a clandestine radio, listening to messages of hope from the BBC. As the Nazi regime intensified its persecution of Jews, the ten Booms faced a moral dilemma: their faith compelled them to protect Jews, but joining the resistance posed political risks.
Their doubts were resolved when Corrie’s brother Willem and his son Kik became involved in the resistance, offering shelter to Jews. Casper ten Boom welcomed a Jewish orphan boy into their home, marking the beginning of their efforts to save lives. Corrie organized a network of volunteers, creating a secret hiding place in her bedroom to shelter those in danger.
As the war progressed, the ten Booms faced increasing challenges, including food shortages and the constant threat of discovery. They devised codes to communicate about hiding needs and managed to save many lives, including a daring rescue of infants from a Jewish orphanage.
In February 1944, the ten Booms were betrayed by a collaborator and arrested. Despite the harsh conditions of imprisonment, Corrie remained steadfast in her faith. After enduring months of interrogation and confinement, she and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, where they continued to organize prayer groups among the prisoners.
Betsie’s health deteriorated, and she passed away in December 1944. Corrie was released due to a clerical error shortly before all women of her age group were sent to the gas chambers. After the war, she dedicated herself to helping others, including former collaborators, and began to share her story of forgiveness.
Corrie ten Boom’s life was marked by her commitment to reconciliation and her belief in the power of forgiveness. She traveled extensively, sharing her experiences and promoting the message of healing and hope. Her book, “The Hiding Place,” published in 1971, further spread her message.
Corrie continued to speak until her health declined. She passed away peacefully on her 91st birthday, April 15, 1981. Her life story serves as a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of forgiveness.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the moral complexities of punishment and forgiveness. Thank you for watching.
Holocaust – The mass murder of Jews and other groups by the Nazis during World War II. – The Holocaust is a significant event in history that teaches us about the dangers of hatred and intolerance.
Faith – Strong belief or trust in a particular religion or spiritual system. – Many people find comfort and guidance through their faith during challenging times.
Forgiveness – The act of pardoning someone for a mistake or wrongdoing. – Forgiveness can be a powerful way to heal and move forward after a conflict.
Resistance – The act of fighting against or opposing something, especially during a conflict or occupation. – During World War II, many groups formed a resistance to fight against the oppressive regimes.
Community – A group of people living in the same area or having a particular characteristic in common. – The community came together to celebrate their shared traditions and history.
Jews – Members of the Jewish religion or people, who have a rich cultural and historical heritage. – Jews have faced persecution throughout history, but their resilience has helped preserve their culture and traditions.
Occupation – The control or settlement of a country or area by a foreign military power. – The occupation of France during World War II led to significant changes in the daily lives of its citizens.
Legacy – Something handed down from the past, such as traditions, achievements, or memories. – The legacy of ancient civilizations can still be seen in modern architecture and government systems.
Service – The act of helping or doing work for others, often in a religious or community context. – Volunteering at the local shelter is a form of service that benefits the entire community.
Betrayal – The act of being disloyal or treacherous to someone or something. – Betrayal can have lasting effects on relationships and trust within a community.
