January 2025
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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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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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Sara de Jong van Koningsbrugge was born in Schoten, the Netherlands, on 24 April 1914. The SS murdered her in Auschwitz on 21 January 1945 at the age of 30. Since 1936, Sara de Jong was married to Adolphus (‘Dolf’) Adrianus Petrus van Koningsbrugge (Amsterdam, 21 October 1913 – Heerlen, 15 June 1974). Based on
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John Sykes, a guitarist who played with rock bands Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, died on January 20, 2025 at the age of 65. The British musician died after a “hard-fought battle with cancer.” John Sykes is an accomplished English musician, songwriter, and guitarist, renowned for his contributions to hard rock and heavy metal.
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There is no way to rank the sadness of Holocaust stories. Each death is a tragedy, a haunting reminder of humanity’s capacity for cruelty. Yet, some stories resonate with an indescribable poignancy, striking us deeply. One such story is that of Friedel Levie, the daughter of Jozef Levie and Else Metzger. Friedel was born in
History of Sorts 