Audrey Hepburn’s Starvation Struggle During the Nazi Occupation—The Untold Story of Her Resilience!

Audrey Hepburn, one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons, is often remembered for her timeless elegance and humanitarian work. However, her early life was marked by profound hardship during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Living in Arnhem, Hepburn and her mother faced extreme adversity, including starvation, malnutrition, and the trauma of living in a war-torn country. Despite these challenges, their resilience and resourcefulness helped them survive, shaping Hepburn’s character and influencing her later efforts as a philanthropist.

A Childhood Shaped by War: The Nazi Occupation in Arnhem

Born in 1929, Audrey Hepburn was just a young girl when Nazi forces invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. She and her family, including her mother, Ella van Heemstra, found themselves in the midst of a brutal occupation. The region of Arnhem, along with nearby Velp, became a hotspot for Nazi operations, and Hepburn witnessed horrific events firsthand. Religious leaders were arrested, and her uncle was executed by the occupying forces. The climate of fear and oppression was pervasive, and the Hepburn family, like many others, had to navigate the dangers and hardships brought by the war.

Food Scarcity and Desperate Measures for Survival

As the war raged on, food shortages became dire, particularly during the “Hunger Winter” of 1944-1945, following the Allied invasion of Normandy. The Dutch railroad strike, which disrupted supply lines, exacerbated the already severe scarcity of food. For the Hepburn family, survival became a daily struggle. In a desperate bid to stave off starvation, Audrey and her mother resorted to eating tulip bulbs, a grim survival tactic common during the famine. As detailed in Den of Geek‘s article on Audrey Hepburn’s wartime experiences, they also ate weeds and whatever else they could forage, doing whatever was necessary to survive.

This food deprivation took a heavy toll on Audrey’s health. The malnutrition caused her to develop jaundice and anemia, which significantly impacted her physical condition. The Christian Science Monitor’s review of the book Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II highlights how these health issues prevented Audrey from pursuing her early dreams of becoming a prima ballerina. Nevertheless, her mother’s perseverance and resourcefulness helped her get through the darkest days of the war.

A Mother’s Resourcefulness: The Role of Penicillin

Audrey’s recovery from malnutrition was complicated, but one key factor played a crucial role in her survival—penicillin. At a time when antibiotics were scarce, her mother managed to procure this life-saving medicine, which helped Audrey recover from the debilitating effects of her condition. This act of ingenuity and love speaks to the unyielding devotion Audrey’s mother had for her children, ensuring that despite the lack of resources, Audrey had a fighting chance to regain her health.

Involvement in the Dutch Resistance

Beyond their daily survival, Audrey and her mother also contributed to the Dutch Resistance. They participated in “black evenings” or zwarte avonden, secret performances designed to raise funds for those hiding from the Nazis, particularly Jews and others targeted by the regime. Audrey’s involvement in these performances was a testament to her bravery and desire to make a difference, even as a young girl. Her first documented participation in a zwarte avond occurred on April 23, 1944, and marked her early engagement with the cause of resistance against the Nazi occupation.

Liberation and the Long-Term Impact on Audrey Hepburn

The liberation of Velp by Canadian forces on April 16, 1945, was a pivotal moment in Audrey’s life. It not only marked the end of the Nazi occupation but also symbolized the freedom she had longed for during the war. Audrey celebrated this new chapter of her life by smoking her first cigarette, a symbolic act of reclaiming her freedom after years of oppression and hardship.

The war’s impact on Audrey was profound and far-reaching. The trauma of those years shaped her character, fostering a deep sense of empathy and resilience. Her experiences during the war also influenced her later humanitarian efforts, particularly her work with UNICEF, where she advocated for children suffering from poverty and malnutrition, drawing on her own childhood experiences.

Conclusion: A Story of Survival, Strength, and Compassion

Audrey Hepburn’s early years, marked by war, starvation, and hardship, were shaped by the unyielding love and support of her mother, who stood by her through every challenge. The resilience that both Audrey and her mother displayed during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands was instrumental in their survival. Audrey’s later success as an actress and philanthropist was deeply influenced by these formative experiences, where survival, compassion, and hope became integral parts of her identity. Through her strength and the sacrifices of her mother, Audrey Hepburn’s legacy endures—not only as an iconic Hollywood star but also as a symbol of resilience, kindness, and humanity.