In the meantime her hatred of the Nazis grew and she started to help the oppressed and to act against the occupier, albeit on a small scale. On July,1st of that year, Jo graduated and she moved to the Michelangelostraat 59 in Amsterdam South, together with her friends Nellie Luyting and Annie van Calsum. In May,1940, war broke out in Holland but after the capitulation life soon returned to normal, also for Jo. This division was named 'Gemma' (from the Latin phrase 'gemmare e minoribus appentinus' meaning 'from small things we aspire towards the great').During that time not much time was devoted to studying. Within this association she founded a new division together with some friends. In Amsterdam she became member of the AVSV ( Amsterdam Female Students Association) and her former secluded life was soon over. In order to be allowed to study there she first had to complete a state exam in Greek and Latin, which she passed.Īt the University of Amsterdam she specialized in International Law and later she wanted to go to Geneva to breathe new life into the League of Nations. Although she originally wanted to become a teacher she decided to study Law at the University of Amsterdam. In 1938 Jo graduated with high grades in German, French, Dutch, English, History, Botany and Zoology. As such, Jo grew up with social-democratic views, especially regarding justice and equality. Jo’s mother came from an ardent socialist preacher’s family and her father was an active member of the SDAP, the Social Democratic Labour Party. The Schaft family were quite isolated too.

Her fellow students thought she was a bit of a nerd, she was always dressed in an un-fashionable way and according to Miep Merkuur who was a good school friend of Jo’s 'she often wore a cardigan when it was hot because her parents were afraid she might catch a cold'. Although still somewhat secluded she had a good time which showed in her grades. After finishing elementary school in 1932 Jo went to the Hogereburgerschool at the Santpoorterplein near her parents’ home.

She was regularly bullied because of her red hair and freckles.

She was an excellent student who was quite modest but did not have much contact with her class mates. Her father was a teacher at an elementary school and was a member of the board of the socialistically inclined Federation of Dutch Teachers. Jo, as she was called, had a normal upbringing in a small socialist family. Her elder sister Annie, who was born in 1915, died from diphtheria in 1927. She was the second daughter of Pieter Schaft and Aafje Talea Vrijer. Jannetje Johanna Schaft was born on September 16th 1920 in Haarlem.

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