In the 1930s, Freddie Oversteegen and her older sister Truus watched their parents hide political refugees from the Nazis, eventually leading them to safety. The sisters were inspired to continue the work of their parents, especially as the Nazi stronghold became tighter and more oppressive.
As teenagers, the Oversteegen sisters joined up with the Dutch Resistance. First, they distributed anti-Nazi leaflets. Then, they offered assistance and sanctuary to those fleeing from the Nazis. In 1941, a massive Nazi crackdown on Dutch workers further infuriated Freddie and Truus. They joined a secret fighting cell and learned military-caliber combat techniques. Once fully equipped to battle their enemies, Freddie and Truus devised a unique plan. The sisters would frequent bars and taverns that were known hangouts for Nazi soldiers. They would flirt with the soldiers, enticing them into nearby woods with the promise of an “intimate encounter.” Once secluded, the Oversteegens’ comrades would emerge from the shadows and execute the Nazis. After a while, Freddie and Truus were shooting the soldiers themselves. In addition, the sisters rigged bridges with explosives and smuggled Jewish children out of concentration camps.
After the war, Freddie and Truus each married and raised familes. Truus named her daughter after a fallen colleague, Hannie Schaft (“The Girl with the Red Hair,” who died a martyr fighting Nazis and taunting her persecutors right up until her demise). Truus became an artist and eventually wrote a memoir of her war experience. She passed away in 2016.
Freddie served on the board of the Hannie Schaft Foundation, which was founded by Truus. She passed away in 2018, one day before her 93rd birthday.