Villa Bouchina

Villa Bouchina was the parsonage of the Christian Reformed Church in the City of Doetinchem, Province of Gelderland. From February 27 until April 21, 1943, it was used temporarily to house nine Jews, including three children, who were known as Mussert Jews. Anton Mussert was the head of the Dutch Nazi Party, the NSB. A number of Jews had joined the NSB which initially was not antisemitic. Once war broke out that changed and all Jews were removed from NSB ranks. Villa Bouchina, the parsonage, had become temporarily empty when Rev. J.TH. Meesters was taken to camp Amersfoort on 11 September 1942 for his participation in the Dutch resistance, where he was executed on 15 October 1942. The nine Jews living at Villa Bouchina were under the direct protection of Anton Mussert. They had a cleaning lady as well as a cook. There were no guards. Despite them having been removed from the NSB, their original membership marked them as traitors. On April 21, these Jews were taken to Camp Theresienstad. They lived in Villa Bouchina not because they were of particular interest to the Dutch non-existing government or the Germans, but because they were under the direct protection of Anton Mussert. Mussert was executed in 1946.

The reservation camp was part of Plan Frederiks. The idea was to protect certain Jews who had been and would be beneficial to the Netherlands. It is not confirmed whether Villa Bouchina was part of that plan. The designation of "a camp" is false.

In addition, in Barneveld (a couple of miles away from Doetinchem) the Germans used the castle 'De Schaffelaar' and the house 'De Biezen' for the same purpose. The approximately 600 inmates of Barneveld were chosen by Secretary-General Frederiks, who was also in control of Villa Bouchina. It should be noted that Fredericks was functioning within the confines of Nazi occupation under the Nazi leadership of Arthur Seyss-Inquart. The villa belonged to the Christian Reformed Church in Doetinchem.

Read more about Villa Bouchina:  Prisoners, Research