Differences in deportation numbers of Jews from Belgium during the Second World War

On 4 September 1938 Nojech Borensztajn, 32 years old, travelled from Germany to Belgium, for a rehabilitative spa treatment. In October he found himself stuck in Antwerp after his passport expired. Nojech went underground while awaiting papers to emigrate to British Palestine, but obtained a temporary Belgian residence permit in November 1939. By February 1941 the German occupying authorities had expelled Nojech and over three thousand other foreigners to the province of Limburg. Nojech was sent from Antwerp to Genk on 4 January 1941 and performed forced labour in the Op den Holven camp in Overpelt as of July 1941. After his release in August 1941 he settled in Schaerbeek. In Spring 1942, when forced labour was imposed on unemployed Jews, Nojech found a job in Charleroi, but was nevertheless soon claimed by Organisation Todt, and on 31 July 1942 he was sent from Charleroi to the labour camps Dannes and Condette in Northern France. On 31 October 1942 transport XVI took Nojech and most of his co-workers to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Nojech jumped from the train en route and went into hiding. He survived the war and passed away in 1975. Nojech, having survived, is not representative of most Jews who were expelled to Limburg or who were claimed for forced labour by Organisation Todt. However, his story does illustrate the elements which comprise the 'Antwerp specificity' within the context of the Holocaust in Belgium and which are explored in this contribution.