Documentary - 2024

(30m - Dutch)

Produced by Merlijn Janssen Steenberg @ Magic Lantern

Julius Israël Cohen was the first Jewish man from Nijmegen (the Netherlands) to be arrested prior to the Nazi round-ups of Jews in 1942, leading to his death. One day, he was summoned to the police station and never returned home. He was deported to Auschwitz via Camp Amersfoort.

Eighty years later, his descendants – Iris Cohen, Annelien Nillesen-Cohen and Paul Cohen gather to read one of his final letters after his deportation.

In this letter, he requests a suitcase containing soap, razors, cigarettes, socks, and additional clothing. A suitcase that he never received.

Ultimately, the Cohen family decides to visit the Nationaal Monument Kamp Amersfoort and deliver that very suitcase to Julius, hoping to gather more information about his final days in the camp…

(This documentary has been made for educational purposes and will be incorporated into the educational program of several middle schools in the Gelderland region of the Netherlands)*