Berlin
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Sometimes, you come across stories and are amazed that they are not widely known. We all have heard about Oskar Schindler because of Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” Still, Otto Weidt’s story is probably just as amazing. It is a story that is close to me because I am half blind and will likely become utterly…
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“The sportive, knightly battle awakens the best human characteristics. It doesn’t separate but unites the combatants in understanding and respect. It also helps to connect the countries in the spirit of peace. That’s why the Olympic Flame should never die.” One could be forgiven for thinking that the words above were uttered by someone with…
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It was Billy Joel’s 74th birthday on 9 May, and I was thinking about writing a piece about his musical history, going back to the times when he joined a band called “Echoes,” at age 16 to the times when he joined the bands “The Hassles” and “Atilla.” Then I came across a story which…
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On June 12, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan gave a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, calling for the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to open the Berlin Wall. He famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” This moment is considered a significant event in the Cold War era, symbolizing…
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I have done similar posts before, but I do think it is extremely important that people understand this. The Holocaust didn’t start with the killing of Jews and other groups, it started with the actions of well-educated people. It started with something we call nowadays cancel culture. On this day, 90 years ago. university students in…
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Shortly after a war it would be quite unnerving to see a bomber flying over your city. However in West Berlin in 1948, this was a welcome sight. It probably was the equivalent of Santa delivering presents early. After World War 2, when Soviet Union leader Josef Stalin occupied West Berlin in 1948, Halvorsen participated…
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Without a shadow of a doubt, the star of the 1936 Olympic Games was Jesse Owens. But there was another medal winner who became more infamous than famous. He came 3rd behind in the Men’s 100 metres sprint behind Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe and third place in the Men’s 200 metres sprint behind Jesse…
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On this day 81 years ago, the fate of 11 million European citizens, was decided in this beautiful and majestic building. These 11 million citizens had only one thing in common—they were Jewish. That was reason enough for the Nazi regime to murder every single one. What is so disturbing about this was the business-like…
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Like all delusional leaders, Hitler would not have been able to carry out his plans without having people around him that encouraged his delusional ideas. Göbbels was without a shadow of a doubt Hitler’s most devoted henchman and enabler. On February 18,1943 he gave his most famous speech in the Sport Palast in Berlin. The…
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I was reminded of this song while I was watching “the Man in the Castle”. So many musicians were murdered during the Holocaust Musicians like the talented composer Gideon Klein The youngest Jewish composer murdered during the Holocaust, Gideon Klein was only 26 when he was murdered in the Fürstengrube sub-camp near Auschwitz. His oeuvre…
History of Sorts 