God bless her and hold her dear.
Five years ago but I just became aware of this passing.
This was five years ago.
Righteous Among the Nations.
I had no idea she was still alive. This was a courageous woman who chose to get involved, not just watch safely from a dark corner. I hope to have a fraction of such courage and love for humanity if my name is ever called to serve in such a way.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/frank/miep.htm
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Miep_Gies.html
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Anne-Frank/All-people/Miep-Gies/
Good for her.
Should be noted that not all Dutch people met this high standard. Over 75% of the Jews of the Netherlands died, a high percentage for western Europe.
This is to a considerable extent because the Dutch civil administration kept running smoothly during the war, making the Nazis job of tracking Jews down easier. There was considerable collaboration by bureaucrats, cops and the general population.
The Nazis of course viewed the Dutch as perfectly good Aryans so weren't oppressing them in the same way as they did the Poles.
To be fair, the Dutch also had an unusually large number of people who risked their lives to help Jews.
IOW, the Dutch had an unusually large number of heros and villains.
Sad.
RIP, Miep. You had a wonderful heart. May you enjoy Heaven.
On the Fifth Anniversary of her passing, another donation to The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous www.jfr.org. RIP
Thank you for posting this. I had no idea she lived so long or that she had passed. What an inspiring story of human courage and compassion in a world that seems hopelessly lost.
Even five years after her death, it is well that we remember someone like Miep Gies, who was like an angel of mercy to these Jews in very dark times.
Her husband Jan was a member of the Dutch Resistance also.
They risked everything to help others.
Anne Frank Ping, May Mies rest in peace.