#Story

Issuing second distribution cards

To ensure the fair distribution of food and goods, distribution cards were introduced shortly before the outbreak of the war. At the end of 1943, Second Distribution Cards were issued by order of the occupying forces in an attempt to expose people in hiding.

After all, anyone without a personal identity card could not receive ration coupons, and therefore no food.These cards were filled in by hand, a considerable task for the municipal secretariat in Lochem!

The Lochem Register of Population

Lochem’s municipal secretariat employed several locals who were also active in the resistance. To continue providing food for people in hiding, they inserted numerous fake or outdated personal cards into the population register. This was crucial, as the Second Distribution Cards were issued based on this register. Due to a shortage of personnel to manually process all 7,300 cards, help came from an unexpected source: unknowingly, a number of NSB members and pro-German policemen assisted in issuing voucher cards, which ultimately benefited many Jews and others in hiding in Lochem and the surrounding area.

Markt 2, Lochem
See the website

Photos