Interview with Holocaust Survivor Maud Dahme | 80th Anniversary of D-Day Cruise

Maud Dahme was born into a Jewish family in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in 1936. When Germany ordered all Jews to vacate their homes and get to the train stations, Dahme and her sister, Rita, were told they were going on vacation. The girls were woken up at 3:00 a.m., told to not wear their stars on their coats, and walked with their parents to the next town. They were delivered to a farm where the couple was a bit older and didn't have kids. The couple explained to the girls that they were to forget their old lives and names and be very careful about what information they spread. They lived with the couple for a while, also taking in an older hidden child who was stored in the barn for some time. They were moved around December 1944 to another family in a small village and were given new names. The Allied bombing in the area became intense at times, creating a very trying time for Dahme. After Germany surrendered, the Dahme sisters returned to the first farmhouse they were hidden at to be received by their parents. Being so young and having been separated for so long, the girls had little memory of their parents. They consented to go with them with the provision that if they didn't like the couple, they could return to the farmhouse. Fortunately, the family became a cohesive unit and decided to leave the Netherlands, immigrating to the United States in 1950 for a chance to start over. Going to American schools was difficult for the girls as they did not speak English. Their parents declared only English spoken be at home, and Dahme went to a lot of movies to help assimilate with the language. Dahme's parents did not talk about the war. Dahme started talking about her experiences in 1981 and continues to speak, teach, and travel to make sure that the Holocaust is never forgotten.
The National WWII Museum commemorated the 80th Anniversary of D-Day with this series of presentations recorded during a cruise aboard the Seabourn Ovation. This journey, which set sail from Hamburg on May 29, 2024, honored the men and women who liberated Europe. With a custom itinerary emphasizing the pivotal land, sea, and air campaigns of World War II, we visited significant historical sites including Amsterdam, East Anglia, Dunkirk, and Normandy. The voyage featured lectures from esteemed historians such as Gordon H. "Nick" Mueller, Donald L. Miller, Alexandra Richie, John McManus, and Keith Lowe. Relive the profound moments and insights shared during this extraordinary trip, culminating in the unforgettable 80th anniversary ceremony on June 6, 2024.

[@jameskulevich8907]

Hell of ride, Maud…

[@moochmike18]

Bless the good Dutch people. Not all but more decent ones than bad ones. And bless this lucky lady. Her experience shows what hate and antisemitism leads to.