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The Rose Accordion: A Dutch Girl's War of Hell and Hope

A true story and inspired by actual events, The Rose Accordion depicts my mother, Corrie, and her family's experiences during the Second World War in The Hague, Holland.

Many do not realize that The Hague was one of the worst-hit cities during WW2. Events experienced by Little Corrie Gelauf and her father, Henk Gelauf, drastically follow two different but just as dangerous, directions when Henk is torn away as Forced Slave Labor and shipped to Auschwitz.

It began in 1938, The Netherlands knew war was brewing as it watched Nazi Germany aggressively cause strife in their quest for Lebensraum and the purifying of their race. The Dutch felt confident, however, that they could remain a neutral country and avoid the worst. However, early May 10, 1940, Hitler's Wehrmacht unexpectedly invaded The Netherlands. The Dutch were ill-equipped for the type of modern warfare Nazi Germany introduced into the arena. It was a five-day deadly struggle culminating in the bombing of Rotterdam, killing over 1000 civilians. The Netherlands surrendered. The Dutch government escaped to London, and, by May 15, Queen Wilhelmina and her family finally departed for England on a British warship. Chamberlain in England resigned on the 10th, and Churchill was elected Prime Minister instead. Thus started five years of heavy fighting in the air over Holland, on its sea shores, and on its soil. Radio Oranje continues its encouragement to the Dutch via the BBC.

Expecting to be welcomed by fellow blonde and blue-eyed 'Aryans,' the Germans were surprised when the Dutch resisted. As they increased their resistance, Nazi Germany tightened its grip. By 1944: almost all Jews had been segregated, ransacked, and shipped off to concentration camps; citizens were looted and heavily rationed; 18 to 40 years old men were used as Slave Labor for the Wehmart. The Nazis prevent all shipment of food, supplies, and water from entering The Hague in 1944. Consequently, during that Hunger Winter, its citizens died of starvation, eating cats, dogs, grass, tulip bulbs, and potato peels-if lucky. Little Corrie's mother is dying and she must take over. Her brother takes over for their father.

Little Corrie and her mother and siblings, experience atrocities that change and damage them forever. At the same time, at Auschwitz, Henk sees another accordion in the orchestra that plays at the gates of Auschwitz. In camp, the accordion gives him hope. In The Hague, their father's accordion gives Corrie's family hope. She believes that so long as they keep her father's prized possession safe from bombings, stealing, and bartering for food, her father will return. But when he fails to return after Liberation, Little Corrie and her family believe the worst.

However, seven months after the liberation of Auschwitz, and four months after the liberation of Holland, Henk-starved, toothless, emaciated and weak-finally limps home. The first thing Little Cornelia and her family do is to bring out the Rose Accordion from its hiding place to him on the street, and place it in Henk's hands to once again fill their world with heartfelt, joyous music and hope.