Who will get the ‘black widow’s legacy?

The NRC Handelsblad yesterday asked the question: what would happen to the archives kept by Florentine Rost van Tonningen, the ‘black widow’ of the notorious World War II collaborator?


Researcher Jaap van Donselaar of the Anne Frank Foundation said he expected Rost van Tonningen, who continued to adhere to white supremicist principles until her death, had some ‘interesting correspondence’ – although much of it may have already been purloined by neo nazis, who visited her at home in Belgium.
But David Barnouw of the NIOD (Dutch Institute for War Documentation), said he thought it was unlikely there was much of interest, nor did he believe the story that she owned a typewriter owned by Hitler.
In the meantime, the widow will be buried in the grave she bought in Rheden in 2000. Extreme right-wingers have already pledged to turn it into a place of pilgrimage.

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