[The zoological garden of Amsterdam Natura Artis Magistra during world War II].
Thanks to the wise management of its director, dr. Armand Sunier, and his team, 'Artis' survived the difficult war period without great losses of its animals and only material damage to some buildings. Artis has meant very much for the inhabitants of the city of Amsterdam during the war. In the first place for the employees and their families, that were kept for starvation and forced labour by extra rations of food and safe hiding places. But also for jewish persons in hiding, who could escape from a certain death by hiding in animal houses or other buildings in the garden. And also for hundreds of thousands people of Amsterdam who found in their zoological garden an oasis of relaxation in a town full of threat and violence.
Frankenhuis
Maarten Th
MT
Natura Artis Magistra, Voorzitter Raad van Advies Zodiac Zoos. frankenhuis@xs4all.nl
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000266:history*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000266:history*; D014754:Violence; D047789:World War II