Samuel Dreese. Collection

Samuel alias Tonny Dreese was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 28 May 1918 as the only child of Marcus Dreese (born on 30 March 1882 in Amsterdam) and Judith Emanuel (born on 7 January 1884 in Amsterdam). Tonny’s father Marcus was a diamond trader. The family lived at Lepelstraat 18 in the Dutch capital. In 1931 Tonny and his parents Marcus and Judith moved to Antwerp. At least Tonny initially lived with his uncle and aunt Salomon and Rebecca Roosnek-Dreese at Bouwensstraat 34 in Borgerhout. As of September 1933, Tonny and his mother Judith lived at Thaliastraat 17 in Berchem. Sadly, on 21 July 1932, Tonny’s father Marcus had passed away in Antwerp. Judith provided for her son by working as a shop assistant. Tonny himself found a job in the diamond industry. He became a diamond cutter and draftsman. By the end of 1933 Tonny and his mother had moved to Amethiststraat 38 in Berchem. Tonny then met non-Jewish Rosette Decker with whom he got engaged before the war. Tonny and his mother Judith still lived at Amethiststraat 38 when Nazi Germany invaded Belgium on 10 May 1940. They were forced to obey the anti-Jewish decrees due to which they had to register themselves in the municipal Jewish register in 1940 and become members of the Association of Jews in Belgium in Spring 1942. From the end of May 1942 onwards, both had to wear the yellow star of David. Tonny took on a job as a gymnastics teacher. In August 1942 Tonny and his mother received an Arbeitseinsatzbefehl, a work order ordering them to present themselves at the Dossin barracks in Mechelen. Tonny and Judith were registered there on 21 August 1942. Their names were added to the deportation list of transport VI, which left the Dossin barracks on 29 August 1942. This train halted in Kosel where the able-bodied men were forced out of the convoy. It is likely that Tonny was separated from his mother there and that Judith Emanuel, 58 years old, was immediately sent to the gas chamber upon arrival at Auschwitz-Birkenau on 31 August 1942. The date, location and circumstances of Tonny’s death remain unknown. He did not survive, but his fiancée Rosette Decker and Rosette’s younger sister Ghislaine cherished Tonny’s memory their entire lives.

In 2023, Ghislaine Decker, younger sister of Samuel alias Tonny Dreese's fiancée Rosette Decker, donated the original item to Kazerne Dossin. Ghislaine cherished the photo of Samuel, whom she considered to be her brother, ever since he was arrested and deported in 1942.

Ghislaine Decker, 2023