January 2025

  • Betje Bierman was the second child of Levie Bierman and Sara Italiaander. She was born in Amsterdam on September 8, 1897, and married there on April 10, 1918, to diamond cutter Abraham Katwijk, the son of Jacob Katwijk and Sara Gobes, who was also born in Amsterdam on May 1, 1894. After Betje and Abraham

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  • This subject is close to my heart—it makes me emotional. In fact, after enjoying a few of these, it makes me very emotional. What am I talking about? Beer! But not just any beer—canned beer. Having a can of beer isn’t just having a drink; it’s embarking on a mini-adventure. First, you chill it to

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  • The Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history. This harrowing event took place during a six-week period starting in December 1937, after the Japanese Imperial Army captured the Chinese capital of Nanjing during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The atrocities committed during this time

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  • The Warning Signs of the Nazi Regime Many people believe that the warning signs of the Nazi regime only became apparent in 1933, while others trace them back to Adolf Hitler’s publication of Mein Kampf. However, evidence shows that Hitler had been formulating his plans long before these milestones—years before the National Socialist German Workers’

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  • This is the remarkable story of Edith Hahn Beer (Vienna, January 24, 1914 – London, March 17, 2009), an Austrian Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust by adopting a false identity and marrying a member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Her incredible tale of survival serves as a testament to human resilience and the complexity

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  • Mengele’s Volatile Nature

    Initially, I set out to write a blog about Mengele’s experiments on children, especially twins, but I found myself unable to continue. The haunting images of those innocent eyes made it impossible for me to proceed with my research. What makes this all the more disturbing is a point I’ve raised before: Josef Mengele didn’t

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  • The Bunalied, or “Song of Buna,” stands as a harrowing testament to the resilience and creativity of individuals subjected to unimaginable suffering during the Holocaust. Composed in the Buna-Monowitz subcamp of Auschwitz in 1942, the song poignantly reflects the daily struggles of prisoners and their unyielding will to retain their humanity amidst inhuman conditions. This

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  • Who hasn’t heard of that warm, comforting beverage known as Irish Coffee? It is often mistakenly credited to Hollywood actress Maureen O’Hara as its inventor. However, her only connection to this iconic drink is through her husband, Captain Charlie Blair. Blair, a pilot, frequently flew seaplanes into Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, and piloted the last

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