Ajax, the Dutch, the War

Ajax, The Dutch, the War examines the history of Amsterdam's Ajax football club during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. The book investigates the fates of Jewish players and club members during this period through extensive research and interviews. Simon Kuper traces Ajax's transformation from a small football club to a world-renowned institution, set against the backdrop of wartime Amsterdam. The research encompasses official records, personal accounts from survivors, and documentation of how the club navigated the complex political and social pressures of the era. The narrative follows multiple storylines, including the actions of Ajax officials and players during the occupation, as well as the broader Dutch response to Nazi policies. Kuper's investigation extends beyond the war years to examine how Ajax and Dutch society processed these events in subsequent decades. The book raises questions about memory, institutional responsibility, and the intersection of sports with political reality. Through the lens of one football club, it presents a microcosm of larger historical forces at work in wartime Europe.

Readers note this book goes beyond standard soccer history to examine Dutch society's complex relationship with WWII and the Holocaust. The research into Ajax's wartime activities earned respect, with several reviewers highlighting the detailed player records and club archives. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanation of Dutch collaboration and resistance - Personal stories of Jewish soccer players and families - Connection between soccer culture and national identity Common criticisms: - Title misleading - less about Ajax/soccer than expected - Narrative jumps between time periods - Some sections feel repetitive Review scores: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (232 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) One reader called it "an important historical document rather than a sports book." Another noted it "fills a crucial gap in Dutch football literature." Multiple reviewers mentioned the book could be shorter, with one stating "the same points are made multiple times in different chapters."

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🔹 Simon Kuper conducted over 100 interviews while researching the book, including conversations with former Ajax players who lived through the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. 🔹 Ajax football club had several Jewish directors before WWII, and the team was historically associated with Amsterdam's Jewish community, leading to fans adopting the nickname "Jews" – a connection that continues to this day. 🔹 During the war, Ajax continued to play matches, even as some of their Jewish members were being deported to concentration camps. The team won the Dutch championship in 1942-43, during the occupation. 🔹 The book reveals that Johan Cruyff, Ajax's most famous player, was born just nine months after the liberation of Amsterdam and was named after a resistance fighter who had helped his family during the war. 🔹 Despite the Netherlands having one of the highest Jewish death rates in Western Europe during WWII (75% of Dutch Jews perished), the country maintained a post-war narrative of widespread resistance to the Nazis – a myth that Kuper's book helps to deconstruct.