A book by a Dutch television journalist accusing the Dutch radio networks of collaboration with the Nazis during the occupation (1944-45) is causing a sensation throughout The Netherlands. The book, by Dick Verkijk, is not due to go on sale until the end of this month, but excerpts have appeared in several dailies and weeklies in the last few weeks.
Verkijk. who was a child during the occupation, did several years’ research on the 750-page study of the networks’ attitude during the occupation. In the book, he shows most networks and their employes willingly collaborated with the Germans, including many well-known names still in the business today. Apparently the post-war de-Nazification of the broadcasting business was limited to the removal of only the most blatant Nazi sympathizers.
Verkijk’s book received a sharp attack from a former Dutch resistance leader and government official, 70-year-old Dr. Jaap Burger, who criticized the book for being “based on abstract research by a man who during the occupation was too young to bear any responsibility.” Dr. Burger headed the post-war de-Nazification program in The Netherlands and was Labor Minister in several post-war Cabinets.
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