dirkdeklein

  • A Place Where I Was Born

    Lindenheuvel, once the open ‘Lutteraderheide’ west of Lutterade, saw its first homes built around 1918–1919 after the 1915 opening of Staatsmijn Maurits, which created a high demand for worker housing. In 1918–1919, the ‘Woningvereniging Geleen’ built 40 workers’ homes on Kampstraat, designed by architect Jan Stuyt (1868–1934). The neighborhood was first called ‘Kolonie Maurits’, soon

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  • Madurodam, nestled in The Hague, Netherlands, is a miniature city that captures the essence of Dutch heritage and ingenuity. Spanning just a few hectares, it offers visitors a bird’s-eye view of the Netherlands, featuring intricate replicas of iconic landmarks, modern cities, and traditional villages. Opened in 1952, Madurodam is not only a delightful attraction for

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  • Gilbert Bradley was a British man who became known through his poignant love letters from World War II. Drafted into the army in 1939, he met and fell in love with Gordon Bowsher, a wealthy man who worked for his father’s shipping business. Their relationship flourished in secrecy, as homosexuality was illegal in Britain at

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  • “I Saw the Light” is a song written and performed by American musician Todd Rundgren, released as the opening track on his 1972 album Something/Anything? In the album’s liner notes, Rundgren mentions that he wanted the song to be the big hit, following the Motown habit of kicking off albums with something catchy and radio-friendly.

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  • This is going to be a bit of a rant. I am just getting so fed up to hear that racism is only a white thing and to imply that every white man is basically born a racist. There is this notion that every white man on the planet has a very privileged background. Let

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  • I love to sing and I don’t care where I am or what I am doing, if I feel the urge to sing I just do it. However there is one song I can never sing along to, It is not that I don’t like the song, the opposite is true it is one of

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  • Nearly every day I pass by this building—the Gerald Griffin Memorial Schools on Bridge Street, Court House Lane, Limerick. The school has a rich history, yet one particular chapter is often overlooked. This building, now a former Christian Brothers School, was originally constructed as a courthouse, as the name of the lane to its north,

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  • This is my interview with Maida Purdy, who wrote a book about her father, Robert Purdy. Robert Purdy was born in 1919 in Wisconsin and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After completing two years of college, he began working as a machinist and tool-and-die maker in Ford and Chrysler auto plants. During this time, he became

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  • Dirk de Klein—T-4 Victim

    Dirk de Klein, born 10 April 1888. Died 25 November 1939. Place of residence: Heinsberg, Germany Cause of Death: Pneumonia. Dirk de Klein was diagnosed with an incurable disease in 1936. He was also an ardent opponent of the Nazi regime and had criticized Hitler and Himmler—publicly on several occasions. Dirk de Klein did not

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  • When the guns of World War II finally fell silent in 1945, Europe faced not only the monumental task of rebuilding cities and economies, but also of seeking justice. Few names were as synonymous with betrayal as Vidkun Quisling, the Norwegian politician whose collaboration with Nazi Germany turned his surname into a byword for “traitor.”

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