In June 20, 1943, the Ledermanns were arrested by the Nazis. They were transported to the Westerbork transit camp, and then deported to the Auschwitz death camp in November 1943. Immediately upon arriving in the camp, Sanne and her parents were killed in the gas chambers of the camp. Barbara, was able to escape the Nazis through her contacts with the Dutch Underground. Barbara emigrated to the United States and later married the Nobel prize winning biochemist Martin Rodbell.