Corrie ten Boom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Corrie ten Boom
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Corrie ten Boom around 1921
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Cornelia Arnolda Johanna ten Boom
15 April 1892 Haarlem, Netherlands
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| Died | 15 April 1983 (aged 91) Placentia, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Writer, watchmaker |
| Known for | Author of The Hiding Place, Righteous Among the Nations |
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| Relatives | Elizabeth "Betsie" ten Boom (sister) |
Cornelia Arnolda Johanna "Corrie" ten Boom (born April 15, 1892 – died April 15, 1983) was a Dutch watchmaker, writer, and public speaker. She worked with her father, Casper ten Boom, and her sister Betsie ten Boom to help many Jewish people escape danger during World War II. They hid people from the authorities in their home during a terrible time called the Holocaust.
The family was discovered, and Corrie was arrested and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, a type of prison camp. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, tells the true story of her family's brave efforts. It also shares how she found and shared hope, even while she was imprisoned.
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Corrie ten Boom's Early Life
Corrie ten Boom was born on April 15, 1892, in Haarlem, Netherlands. She was the youngest child of Casper ten Boom, who was a jeweler and watchmaker, and Cornelia Johanna Arnolda. Corrie had three older siblings: Betsie, Willem, and Nollie. Three of her aunts also lived with the family.
The Ten Boom family lived above Casper's watch shop in a house they called "the Beje." Corrie first helped with housework. But when her sister Betsie became ill, Corrie started working in the watch shop. She loved the business side of things and created a system for bills and records. Even after Betsie recovered, Corrie stayed in the shop, and Betsie managed the home.
Corrie trained to become a watchmaker herself. In 1922, she became the first woman in the Netherlands to get a license as a watchmaker. She also started a club for teenage girls. This club offered religious lessons and classes in arts, sewing, and crafts. The Ten Boom family were Christians who believed in helping others. Their faith taught them that all people are equal and deserve kindness. This belief strongly motivated their selfless work later on.
Helping Others During World War II
In May 1940, Germany took over the Netherlands. One of the new rules was that Corrie's youth club had to close. In May 1942, a woman came to the Ten Booms' home. She was Jewish and in great danger, so she needed a safe place to stay. Corrie's father, Casper, immediately agreed to help her, even though the police station was very close by. He believed it was important to help all people, especially those in need, and welcomed her into their home.
Corrie and Betsie opened their home to Jewish people needing safety and others working against the occupation. The Dutch Resistance, a group working secretly against the occupation, helped them. They sent an architect to build a secret hiding place in Corrie's bedroom. This hidden room was behind a false wall and could hold six people. An alarm buzzer was installed to warn people to get into the room quickly if there was danger.
Food was hard to find during the war. Everyone needed special cards to get weekly food. Corrie knew a kind man who worked at the office that gave out these food cards. One evening, she bravely asked him for 100 cards, even though she only needed a few for her own household. The man gave them to her, and Corrie provided cards to every Jewish person she met.
Corrie's role in the Dutch resistance grew. She became part of a network that helped smuggle Jewish people to safe places. It is believed that her efforts helped save about 800 Jewish people.
Arrest and Imprisonment
On February 28, 1944, someone told the authorities about the Ten Boom family's work. The family was arrested that day. They were sent to Scheveningen Prison after secret items and extra food cards were found in their home. The six people hiding in the secret room were not found. Brave police officers, who were also part of the resistance, helped the hidden people escape to other safe locations. Corrie later received a secret message in prison: "All the watches in your cabinet are safe," meaning the hidden people had escaped and were safe. Over 30 people who were at the Ten Boom home that day were arrested.
Most of the 30 people were soon released. However, Corrie, Betsie, and their father Casper remained in prison. Sadly, Casper died in prison ten days later. Corrie was first held alone in a cell. After three months, she had a hearing. At her hearing, Corrie spoke about helping people with disabilities. The officer made fun of this, as the authorities at that time had a cruel policy of harming people with disabilities. Corrie bravely said that in God's eyes, everyone is valuable, no matter their abilities or job.
Corrie and Betsie were sent to different prison camps, including Herzogenbusch and finally to the Ravensbrück concentration camp, a camp for women in Germany. There, they held secret worship services using a Bible they had hidden. Their kindness and faith inspired many other prisoners. While imprisoned, Betsie and Corrie began to plan a place of healing for after the war.
Betsie became very ill and passed away on December 16, 1944, at the age of 59. Before she died, Betsie shared a message of deep hope with Corrie. Corrie was released just twelve days later. She later learned that this was a mistake, and soon after, all the other women her age in the camp were tragically killed.
Corrie returned home during a very difficult time of food shortages. She continued to help people with disabilities who were in hiding because they were in danger.
Corrie's Life After the War
After the war, Corrie returned to the Netherlands. She opened a special home to help people recover from the war. At first, it helped Dutch people who had worked with the Germans, and later, it welcomed anyone who needed help. In 1946, she even returned to Germany and forgave some of the people who had been cruel to her and Betsie at the camp.
Corrie went on to travel the world, sharing her story and message of forgiveness and hope in over 60 countries. She wrote many books during this time. One of her books, Tramp for the Lord, tells short stories about her travels and sharing her message of hope and forgiveness.
Corrie told the story of her family's brave actions during World War II in her bestselling book, The Hiding Place (1971). This book was made into a film in 1975, also called The Hiding Place. In 1977, Corrie moved to Placentia, California. She had several strokes, which made it hard for her to speak and move. She passed away on her 91st birthday, April 15, 1983. Another film, Return to the Hiding Place, was released later, telling more about the brave group she worked with.
Honors and Legacy
Corrie ten Boom received many honors for her courage and kindness:
- The Yad Vashem Remembrance Authority in Israel honored her as a "Righteous Among the Nations," a special title for non-Jewish people who saved Jews during the Holocaust. This happened on December 12, 1967.
- The Queen of the Netherlands made her a knight in recognition of her important work during the war.
- The Ten Boom Museum in Haarlem is dedicated to her and her family, celebrating their brave actions.
- The King's College in New York City named a new women's house in her honor.
