dirkdeklein

  • In Flanders Fields

    On May 3, 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, Belgium, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote his now-famous poem after seeing poppies growing in battle-scarred fields. Alexis Helmer, a close friend, was killed during the battle on May 2. McCrae performed the burial service himself, where he noticed how poppies quickly…

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  • A picture tells a thousand words but never tells the full story. Following are the words of some of those who survived the worst crime ever committed, the Holocaust. Toby Biber“This one morning, orders – ‘get out, get out’ – and whatever. By then we only had a few bits belongings – you, we grabbed…

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  • Auschwitz Birkenau

    In the shadows of history’s darkest hour,Lies a place where hope lost its power.Auschwitz-Birkenau, silent and stark,Bears witness to humanity’s deepest mark. Within its fences, anguish did reign,As innocent souls felt the tormenting pain.Their cries echoing through the chilling air,Beseeching a world that seemed not to care. In barracks cramped, they huddled in fear,Their dreams…

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  • There are not that many good Dutch rock songs, but “Strange Machine”s by The Gathering, certainly can be called a great metal track. It is the first song of The Gathering’s third album, the first to feature vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. The song contains a passage from George Pal’s film version of H.G. Wells’s book,…

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  • Nieuwlande is a village in the Netherlands, located in the province of Drenthe, known for its unique history during World War II. During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Nieuwlande became a safe haven for Jews and others. The villagers, predominantly farmers, worked together to hide Jewish families and individuals, saving them from persecution and…

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  • I am not a Jehovah’s Witness, and although I don’t really agree with their doctrine, I respect them for their unshakable faith in what they believe in. The persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nazi Germany is a dark chapter in history that often goes overlooked compared to other groups targeted by the regime. Despite being…

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