Arthur and Bertha (Betty) Heidenheim were German-Jewish refugees who emigrated to the Netherlands in 1937 with their youngest son Dieter. They had already sent their two older sons, Otto and Bruno, to Africa when things became increasingly difficult for Jews in Germany in the 1930s. They lived at Margriete van Clevelaan 10 in Amstelveen, near Johan and Di Benders, and became friends with them. Dieter Heidenheim had escaped to England in a rowing boat at the beginning of the war and from there eventually ended up in Canada. His parents were less fortunate. Jews had to live together as much as possible to make it easier to deport them later. In October 1941, Arthur and Betty were therefore forced to live there and on 12 May 1942 they had to go to Amsterdam. In June 1943 they were deported to Westerbork. Johan and Di Benders were given their belongings for safekeeping. From Westerbork, Arthur and Betty Heidenheim sent another letter to their friends. Di Benders sold their jewelry to buy a stamp for 66,000 guilders, which allowed them to stay in Westerbork. She also sent them two food parcels a week. In February 1944, they were sent to Theresienstadt at their own request, because they thought that no one would be deported from there. There, too, they received food parcels from Di Benders. On May 18, 1944, they were transported to Auschwitz, where they were murdered on July 7. The Benders family gave the clothing and belongings they left behind to people who had nothing left, such as Jews returning after the war.
Bron: Mart Benders, Leraar in oorlogstijd