The Hiding Place

A detailed Summary of The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is the story about the life of a woman in Holland during the German Nazi invasion and holocaust. Miss. Ten Boom tells about her childhood, helping people escape through the anti-Nazi underground, her arrest and imprisonment, and her release.

As a child Miss. Ten Boom grew up in their family's watch shop with her mother, father, sisters, Nollie and Betsie, brother, Willem, and aunts, Tante Jan, Tante Anna, and Tante Bep. Her close-knit family was a very important part of her life. They worked together to keep up the house and the shop. People would always be at their house to visit, needing a place to stay, or just to hear Father read the Bible. Through her brother she met Karel, with whom she fell in love. He was a schooled man, very intelligent and cunning. Though he also had a love for Corrie, he would never court her, let alone marry her. His family arranged his marriage with a woman that had a large dowry. The rejection hurt Corrie at that young age but was soon forgotten and placed behind her.

Her family was always known for helping people less fortunate. In a person's time of need, her mother always took food and a warm smile to help. Whenever a child was homeless, the

Many weeks later they were marched over a mile back to the train. Again they were piled into the small box cars. Again they hoped and prayed that they were not going to Germany. This time they were not so lucky. They crossed the border and headed for Ravevsbruck. Soon they arrived there and soon marched for a mile up the hill to the camp. They were sent to an open canvas tent roof which covered a large area of lice infested straw. There they were left to stay and sleep for three days and two nights. As they were laying down to sleep for the third night they were ordered to go to the processing center. There they went through the melancholy procession again, but at the end of this one there was a shower waiting for them. They stood in the dank and dingy shower room naked and cold. Betsie now so sick she could barely stand. By hiding their Bible in their removed clothing they were able to get it passed the guards, which allowed them to continue their ministry even in these harsh surroundings. They were sent to barracks 8 where there was already an overcrowding. In places nine people shares a space large enough for four. There was constant groveling and complaining. All Betsie and Corrie could do for these people was pray. So that's what they did. Whenever there was a chance they spoke of how wonderful Jesus was and told Bible stories. Many people were ministered to in barracks 8 on those late nights. Corrie and Betsie got new work details. They were both assigned to the tough labor. But soon Betsie became sick again and was assigned to knitting socks. Soon after that Corrie was inspected for transport. Since she could not see the eye chart she was not able to leave at the time. So, she was then assigned to knitting socks.

Days later a woman came to Corrie offering her house to be used. It was a beautiful house with tall windows and inlaid floors, statues set into the wall and a broad staircase. Just as Betsie had visioned. Corrie spoke at many churches and told many people about what she had been through. A man had soon found a place to continue her missionary work. An old concentration camp in Germany. Corrie was overwhelmed. She told the man that there were to be window boxes at every window and that they would need a lot of green paint. Just as Betsie had visioned.

A few days after that meeting the prisoners were awakened and told to pack their pillowcases. Some were excited hoping that the war was over and they were going home. Others were worried they were going to go to an even more wretched place than where they were. Those excited people were very mistaken. As they marched out of the prison they were led into small box cars. There they looked for people they knew or were related to. Corrie soon found Betsie. They knew that they would be fine now that they were together. They cramped themselves into the train cars with many other women. Everyone carefully found a place where the could sit. The trip was long and soon got foul smelling. Everyone had the same thought in mind... where would they end up?? Everyone hoped, wished, and prayed not Germany, this time they were lucky, they were going Brabant. Overhe

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Approximate Word count = 2150
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels