044 5th May 1945

Dear Mies and Toon

God has heard our prayers. At last, at last, at last, after nearly five whole years of cruel oppression, we have been liberated, and our country can again be itself. Yes we thank God for this. Every where there are notices saying "Freed from the yoke. Amsterdammers , on this happy day, May 5th, unfurl once again the red, white and blue flag".

May 7th
Today our rescuers are coming, and we are waiting impatiently to shout out our thanks to them, and to sing of Victory. Also because they are bringing food with them, which is so very welcome. Long live the three allied powers. Long live our Queen and our royal family. The Queen and Princess Juliana are already in the country, they are in Brabant and we are expecting them to arrive in Amsterdam next Friday. The whole week we will be celebrating, and when those hateful green uniformed German police have disappeared for good, only then will it really be over. Can you believe it? In spite of having longed so much and so long for the war to end, when it finally came, I found that for the first few minutes I could not rejoice. It took a while to penetrate, only when I saw the cheering people in the street and all those red, white and blue flags being waved about, did I realise it was true, and then I started to laugh and cry all at once.

And now all the stress has suddenly gone and all the worries. The institutions will be among the first to be provided with coal, and withing three weeks the electricity will be restored. Our prayers did not go unanswered, indeed it was a miracle that Amsterdam was spared in the end. Right up to the last day we did not know what might be hanging over our heads, because the most vile and most vulgar of all the German troops - the green uniformed police - were left behind to keep order.

On 5th May, the people scattered flowers around the various spors where men had been shot by the Germans, namely: The Appollo Laan, the Weteringschans, The Vijzelgracht etc. etc. etc. and left flags in memory of the atrocities that had occurred there. Eventually each place will have its own monument or memorial.

Dear children, I hope to hear from you very soon, and that at last we can start writing to each other in the normal way.

May 10th
Up until now I have feared that something might have happened to you. But suddenly a Canadian gentleman, a Major named Mr Hurle, came to bring me your greetings and good wishes. Now I can relax and start to be myself again, and after this comforting news, I shall bring this series of letters to an end, as from now on we can have direct contact.

Now children, until we meet, very soon I hope to be able to go to England and see you all again.

A big cuddle
from your Mother