The Second World War in Music
The Second World War in Music focuses on the meaning of music in the Kingdom of the Netherlands during WWII. Banned music, music from camps, propaganda songs, and other works dating from WWII can be heard again on this site. The music, articles, films, photos, and numerous documents tell of the power and powerlessness of music, of life and survival with music.
Compilation Second World War in Music (8'). With excerpts of the personal stories of Jan van Dijk and Gisela Wieberdink-Söhnlein, music from the Dutch composers Rudolf Escher and Jan van Gilse, an excerpt of an interview with trumpeter Pieter Dolk about the opening tune of the orchestra of Vught Concentration Camp, and an excerpt of music of the Netherlands Antilles.
Gisela Wieberdink-Söhnlein (b. 1921)
Singing to give courage
Satirical texts quickly flowed from Gisela Söhnlein’s pen during her incarceration in the concentration camps of Vught, the Netherlands and Ravensbrück, Germany. She and her inseparable friend Hetty Voûte wrote and sang countless cabaret songs. “It was a task we gave ourselves. It was expected of us.” 
Last update: June 24, 2010
