Dutch wartime biography pulled from shelves over falsehoods

A biography of Willem Wilbrink, a 99-year-old Dutch man, has been pulled from bookshelves and online platforms due to the discovery that his claims of being a resistance hero and surviving the Dachau concentration camp at age 16 are likely false. The 2023 biography by author Laurens van Aggelen detailed Wilbrink's alleged imprisonment in Dachau and his supposed act of saving 40 individuals from the gas chambers by delivering them to the infirmary.

However, an investigation by Hans Vogelzang, whose own family member was held in Dachau, uncovered no evidence supporting Wilbrink's assertions. Wilbrink did not even appear in the camp's prisoner roster, which is considered highly accurate. Despite being a prominent figure at World War II commemorations, several Dachau survivors recall no knowledge of Wilbrink's stories.

The Dachau Committee voiced concerns about the biography since 2024, expressing disbelief and questioning the validity of Wilbrink's wartime narrative. The committee attempted to have the publisher withdraw the book but ultimately decided to make their doubts public, emphasizing the importance of preserving facts and reality, especially during a time reminiscent of pre-war tensions.

The biography's author, van Aggelen, maintains his stance, while Wilbrink himself has accused the Historisch Nieuwsblad article of "slander and libel," claiming Dachau's records were incomplete. The publisher, White Elephant Media in Arnhem, has not yet responded to the controversy.