Jörgen Tjon sheds light on the lives of resistance heroes from the Antilles
Jörgen Tjon explores the lives of resistance heroes from the Dutch Caribbean. He speaks with their descendants, visits key locations involved in the resistance actions, and engages in conversation with heritage professional Dyonna Benett.
Jörgen delves into the stories of war heroes George Maduro, student Johnny Mauricio, and nursing trainee Elsa Graneveld. All three were born on the island of Curaçao and each made a meaningful contribution to the liberation of the Netherlands. Jörgen travels to the places where their actions took place, speaks with family members, and gains further insight from heritage professional Dyonna Benett.
On May 19, 2023, I appeared on NPO2 in the documentary program ‘Vergeten Helden Antillen’ (Forgotten Heroes of the Antilles).
Presented by Jörgen Tjon, the program explores the resistance actions of Curaçaoan war heroes Johnny Mauricio, Elsa Graneveld, and George Maduro. Through conversations with their descendants, the documentary reflects on their contributions during World War II, the founding of the student association Kolonia Kòrsou na Hulanda during the war, and the silence that followed after liberation. As Jörgen travels to the locations where these resistance acts took place, he also speaks with me in my role as a heritage professional. Together, we discuss the long-lasting impact of this history and its importance for the cultural heritage of Curaçao. A special thanks to Allan van der Ree for his valuable input into my research. The important work of the WW2 Museum Curaçao also plays a crucial role in preserving and highlighting this part of our heritage. The episode is rich with lesser-known details, previously untold stories, and deeply personal reflections from the families involved.
A must-watch.
Available to watch via: Vergeten Helden | NPO Start