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Fritz Pfeffer's work in the Netherlands

Fritz Pfeffer practised his profession of dentistry clandestinely in the Netherlands.

Subject

Little is known about Pfeffer's professional activities in the Netherlands. According to Anne's diary, he practised his profession as a dentist clandestinely.[1] This could be the reason why not much can be found about it.

When applying for temporary residence in the Netherlands, Pfeffer indicated that he had means of subsistence and was not going to pursue a profession or business.

Upon Pfeffer's arrival in the Netherlands, the Aliens Office noted: Looks after himself. This was later followed by the note that Pfeffer was supported by the Committee for Jewish Refugees.[2] According to testimony from Hilde Goldberg-Jacobsthal, her father had arranged for Pfeffer to work a few hours a week with other dentists. She herself also had a few fillings made by Pfeffer, Hilde said.[3]

Other sources indicating that Pfeffer continued to practise his profession as a dentist are:

  • A letter dated 23 June 1939 in which Pfeffer wrote to Charlotte Kaletta that he went to his practice at two-thirty.[4]
  • According to Anne's diary, Pfeffer worked clandestinely with dentist Samuel van der Hoeden.[1] Van der Hoeden was in fact a traveller in dental supplies and a dental technician.[5]
  • On Pfeffer's personal card, the profession dentist was replaced by dental technician. When this happened is not known.[6]
  • According to Miep Gies, Pfeffer was her dentist. Miep said in an interview that she ignored the ban on Jewish doctors treating non-Jewish patients and remained a patient with Pfeffer.[7]

On 5 February 1941, the Departments of Justice and Social Affairs wrote to Jewish practitioners of liberal professions that they had to stop working by 1 May 1941, but were allowed to work for Jews if they wished. The measure affected lawyers, prosecutors, doctors, dentists and pharmacists, among others.[8]

The Foreign Office noted on 25 July 1941 that Pfeffer was being supported financially by his father in Giessen.[2]

Once in hiding in the Secret Annex, Pfeffer took charge of caring for the teeth of at least some of the others. Anne regularly writes about this in her diary, noting that Pfeffer had obtained a foot-powered dental drill, and she expected to receive treatment.

Footnotes

  1. a, b Anne Frank, Diary Version A, 13 November 1942, in: The Collected Works, transl. from the Dutch by Susan Massotty, London [etc.]: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2019.
  2. a, b Stadsarchief Amsterdam (SAA), Gemeentepolitie Amsterdam, inv. nr. 4046: Veemdelingenkaart Fritz Pfeffer. 
  3. ^ Anne Frank Stichting (AFS), Getuigenarchief, Jacobsthal, Hilde: Interview 15 april 2007.
  4. ^ AFS, Anne Frank Collectie (AFS), reg. code A_Pfeffer_I_006: Fritz Pfeffer aan Charlotte Kaletta.
  5. ^ SAA, Dienst Bevolkingsregister, Archiefkaarten ( toegangsnummer 30238): Archiefkaart Samuel van der Hoeden.
  6. ^ SAA, Dienst Bevolkingsregister, Archiefkaarten (toegangsnummer 30238): Archiefkaart Fritz Pfeffer.
  7. ^ Miep Gies & Alison Leslie Gold, Herinneringen aan Anne Frank. Het verhaal van Miep Gies, de steun en toeverlaat van de familie Frank in het Achterhuis, Amsterdam: Bert Bakker, 1987, p. 130.
  8. ^ J. Presser, Ondergang. De vervolging en verdelging van het Nederlandse Jodendom, 1940-1945, 's-Gravenhage: Staatsuitgeverij, 1965, deel I, p. 117. Aangezien Pfeffer niet officieel praktijk hield, kreeg hij deze brief waarschijnlijk niet.