Escape routes
Already before the war Joop Westerweel was involved in helping Jewish refugees from Germany. In 1942, he got into contact with the Palestine pioneers from the Loosdrechtse group via Mirjam Waterman. In one of them, Joachim (Shushu) Simon, Westerweel found a kindred spirit. At Mirjam's request, Westerweel decided together with his wife Willy and a few friends to help the Palestine pioneers set up an escape route for Jews through Switzerland. In total, he succeeded in bringing between 150 and 200 Jews, especially youngsters, to France and Spain. In 1943, his wife Willy was arrested and deported to camp Vught from where she was deported to camp Ravensbrück. Westerweel continued the work, but was arrested at the Dutch-Belgian border on 11 March 1944. Five months later, on 11 August, he was executed by a fire squad in Vught. Willy survived the Ravensbrück women's camp.