February 2024

  • The title of this blog alludes to a brief history, although it will probably be a long read and includes a 15-minute watch and listen. However, in the greater scheme of things and—taking into consideration the long and complex history of anti-Semitism—this blog is a relatively brief history. Anti-Semitism is throughout history. I’ve attached at

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  • Ah yes, it is that time of year again when men frantically rush into the shops to buy those last minutes cards and presents for their beloved. Sweaty palms, nervous twitches etc. I say men because lets face it, you hardly see any women in shops buying valentine’s gifts(they are clever, they would have bought

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  • Dresden

    Between February 13 and 15, there were four raids on Dresden. The Allied bombing of the German city of Dresden was carried out by the British Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force (USAAF) in four phases from the night of February 13 to 15, 1945. The photographs included in this blog were

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  • On May 8, 1940, the Van Hasselt family were festively dressed—as guests at the wedding of Meijer Nieweg, Missus van Hasselt’s brother. Simon van Hasselt was wearing a white flower for the occasion. Two days later, the Germans invaded the Netherlands. Less than two years later, on April 29, 1942, the van Hasselt family, like

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  • Sun-tanned, Wind-blownHoneymooners at last alone.Feeling far above par.Oh, how lucky we are!While I give to you and you give to me,True love, true love.So on and on it’ll always be,True love, true love. For you and IHave a guardian angel on high,With nothin’ to do.But to give to you and to give to me,Love forever

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  • On September 15, 1935, the Nazi regime announced the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor (‘Gesetz zum Schutze des deutschen Blutes und der deutschen Ehre’). The law forbade sexual relations and marriages between Germans classified as so-called ‘Aryans’ and Germans classified as Jews. “–Section 1 Section 2Sexual relations outside marriage between

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  • Grief

    After someone who is close to you has died, some people will say that you have to get over it. That advise is total nonsense. You don’t get over it. You deal with it and you move on after a certain time, but you don’t get over it. There is no need to do that,

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  • The title of this blog is a question I have often asked myself. Why did the Dutch not stop the Nazis from persecuting and murdering the Jews? It is also a question I will attempt to answer—at least to an extent. The Dutch are often known for their pragmatism, directness, and openness. They value honesty

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  • I am not sure if this was a case of friendly fire. In my opinion, it should be considered a war crime by the Japanese Imperial Navy for not marking the ship accordingly as POW and civilian transport. The attack on the Dorish Maru occurred on the night of February 6, 1944. The ship, commanded

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