dirkdeklein
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The story below must have been one of the saddest stories of 9/11. The attack on the World Trade Center in New York touched Corkman Mr John Clifford’s family in a particularly cruel way. Just hours after learning that his brother, Ronnie, who worked in the centre, had survived the disaster, Mr Clifford was told…
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A few months ago, I visited Dachau. Today, for some reason, I was reminded of something that the tour guide said. The guide was from Ireland, which I found surprising but it was a pleasant surprise because he was clearly an expert in Dachau and its history. However, despite his expertise, there was one thing…
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Sabotage: a destructive or obstructive action carried out by a civilian or enemy agent to hinder a nation’s war effort. The Dutch are often criticized for not having done enough to protect their fellow citizens during World War II, especially their Jewish neighbours. To an extent, it is a justified criticism. However, this doesn’t mean…
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When you look at the photograph above, you may be forgiven for thinking that it is an image of a class of children doing arts and crafts at school. They are children doing arts and crafts, but it is not in a school (at least not a regular school) it is a group of children…
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A smiling angel A boy A mischievous rascal A smiling angel A child A future A smiling angel A love eternal A human being not capable of hate A smiling angel He could have played football for AC Milan or Inter Milan, or any team, His future was limitless His love will live on ,…
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On 5 September 1944, exiled representatives of the three countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed the London Customs Convention, the treaty that established the Benelux. A politico-economic union and formal international intergovernmental cooperation of the three neighbouring nations. However, that is not why 5 September 1944 would become known as Dolle Dinsdag or Mad Tuesday. Many…
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Music soothes the savage beast, that is what Shony Alex Braun must have thought when he played for the SS. Shony’s story may seem like he had it relatively easy life, playing for the SS. However, I believe that could not be further from the truth. It wouldn’t take much for the SS to suddenly…
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Like in Germany proper and other Nazi-occupied countries, the Holocaust wasn’t a sudden process but a gradual one. On September 1, 1941, the Nazis introduced several measures against the Dutch Jews. On that day, the Nazis announced that from that moment on, Jewish students and teachers were no longer welcome at ordinary schools. They had…
History of Sorts 