Ben Bril
Encyclopedia
Barend Bril (16 July 1912 – 11 September 2003) was a Dutch
boxer
.
Born in Amsterdam
, he competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
at age 15 in his home town.
Four years later he was barred from the 1932 Summer Olympics
because the Dutch Olympic Committee was led by a member of the Dutch Nazi party, and he boycotted the 1936 Games in Berlin
.
Bril reached a milestone in his career by winning the gold medal
at the 1935 Maccabiah Games
.
He won the Dutch title in his division eight times.
During the German occupation of the Netherlands, he was deported to Germany and interned at the Bergen-Belsen
concentration camp. Four of his brothers and a sister died in the concentration camps. All but one of the siblings were married with children. Ben Bril and his younger brother Herrie both survived the war. Herrie Bril died in Rotterdam on 6 August 1966.
Ben Bril and his wife Celia had one child Ab Ben, who lives in Zandvoort
with his wife Wilma. Ab Ben and Wilma have one son, Benno, who also lives in Zandvoort.
Ben Bril died aged 91 in Amsterdam
.
In October 2006 Ben Bril's biography by Ed van Opzeeland was published. It is called Ben Bril - Davidsster als Ereteken (free translation: Ben Bril - Decorated with a Star of David). The Dutch swimmer Erica Terpstra
handed out the first copy of the book to Ben's son Albert Bril.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
Born in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, he competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
at age 15 in his home town.
Four years later he was barred from the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
because the Dutch Olympic Committee was led by a member of the Dutch Nazi party, and he boycotted the 1936 Games in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Bril reached a milestone in his career by winning the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 1935 Maccabiah Games
1935 Maccabiah Games
The 1935 Maccabiah Games was the second Maccabiah held. These games were held despite official opposition by the British Mandatory government. A total of 28 countries were represented by 1,350 athletes. Delegations from Italy, Belgium, Holland, Turkey, France and South Africa arrived for the first...
.
He won the Dutch title in his division eight times.
During the German occupation of the Netherlands, he was deported to Germany and interned at the Bergen-Belsen
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
concentration camp. Four of his brothers and a sister died in the concentration camps. All but one of the siblings were married with children. Ben Bril and his younger brother Herrie both survived the war. Herrie Bril died in Rotterdam on 6 August 1966.
Ben Bril and his wife Celia had one child Ab Ben, who lives in Zandvoort
Zandvoort
Zandvoort is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.Zandvoort is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach, bordered by coastal dunes...
with his wife Wilma. Ab Ben and Wilma have one son, Benno, who also lives in Zandvoort.
Ben Bril died aged 91 in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
In October 2006 Ben Bril's biography by Ed van Opzeeland was published. It is called Ben Bril - Davidsster als Ereteken (free translation: Ben Bril - Decorated with a Star of David). The Dutch swimmer Erica Terpstra
Erica Terpstra
Erica Georgine Terpstra is a retired Dutch freestyle swimmer, theosopher, sports journalist, state secretary and member of parliament. Between late 2003 and 18 May 2010 she was chairperson of the NOC*NSF...
handed out the first copy of the book to Ben's son Albert Bril.