A cold February wind bites. We stand before the Gedenksteen Februaristaking. This unassuming stone holds a powerful story. It commemorates the 1941 Amsterdam February Strike. A pivotal moment in Dutch history. A bold act of defiance against Nazi oppression.
The Gedenksteen Februaristaking isn’t flashy. It’s a simple memorial. Yet its significance echoes through the years. This small stone marks a building. The former IJssalon Koco stood here. Its owners Ernst Cahn and Alfred Kohn were German-Jewish refugees. They weren’t just ice cream sellers. They were part of a resistance group.
On February 19th 1941 the Green Police raided IJssalon Koco. They stormed in guns blazing. The resistance group fought back. They used ammonia. They blinded the police. Cahn was arrested. He became the first person in the Netherlands executed for resisting the Nazis.
This brave act sparked outrage. The Nazis responded with brutal reprisals. They rounded up 427 Jewish men. They sent them to concentration camps. Buchenwald and Mauthausen were their destinations. Only two survived.
The anger ignited a general strike. Tens of thousands of Amsterdammers walked off their jobs. They protested the persecution of Jews. This was a remarkable act of bravery. The strike spread beyond Amsterdam. It reached Zaanstreek Kennemerland Utrecht Hilversum and Weesp.
The Gedenksteen Februaristaking serves as a reminder. It reminds us of the courage shown during dark times. It honors those who resisted tyranny. It underscores the importance of fighting injustice. This unassuming stone on Van Woustraat represents something much larger. It represents hope resistance and defiance in the face of overwhelming evil. Let us remember the victims. Let us honor their memory. Let us never forget the lessons of the February Strike.