Mathilde (Tilly) Sugarman
Mathilde (Tilly) Sugarman was born in August of 1917 in Amsterdam, Holland. She was raised in a well-educated family, finishing secular high school, and studying for dual degree at a university herself. As a Jew in Amsterdam she experienced heavy restrictions under the German occupation of the country as WWII began. Those who followed the faith in her town were forced to wear the yellow Star of David on their clothing.
Luckily, Tilly was able to obtain a false identification card from a Christian friend which allowed her to continue to work freely in society. After witnessing the incarceration of a family friend by the Nazis, Tilly and her family separated and went into hiding. Using her fake name, she was able to continue nannying for multiple families. This allowed her to stay out of the Third Reich’s watchful eyes. Then, she received a stolen blank identity card by one of the parents she babysat for as a gift, granting her with the opportunity to better protect herself. It also gave Tilly the opportunity to join the Dutch Resistance.
Through this organization, she worked on translating and distributing relevant information about the war to surrounding Jewish families in Amsterdam. When Canada liberated the city in May of 1945, Tilly was overjoyed and relieved when she found out her mother and younger brother were still alive. In January of 1946, she married a Canadian soldier stationed in one of the ordinance corps. Soon after, they immigrated to his homeland. Tilly passed away in Canada in 2006.
Written by Emma Rieser