Before they became full-fledged underground warriors, Truus and Freddie Oversteegen committed relatively modest transgressions. After all, they were just 16 and 14 years old, respectively, when Nazi Germany first occupied the Netherlands in May 1940, during the early years of World War II.
The girls distributed outlawed newspapers to bus riders and posted banners praising the Soviet Union, Germany’s enemy. They escorted Jewish children from one safe hiding place to the next so the kids could avoid capture and harm by the Nazis.
Truus and Freddie Oversteegen became seasoned underground warriors. But at first, they committed only modest offenses. After all, the sisters were only 16 and 14 years old, respectively, when Nazi Germany first occupied the Netherlands. The German occupiers had come in May 1940, during the early years of World War II.
The girls passed out outlawed newspapers to bus riders. They posted banners praising the Soviet Union, Germany’s enemy. They also escorted Jewish children from one safe hiding place to the next so the kids could avoid capture and harm by the Nazis.