Holocaust
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The phrase Arbeit macht frei (German for “Work sets you free”) is one of the most infamous symbols of Nazi oppression. Displayed at the entrances of several concentration camps, including Auschwitz, this deceptive slogan falsely suggested that forced labor would lead to eventual freedom. However, one unique and subtle act of resistance can be found…
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I am not sure what to make about the photograph above. It is either extremely brave and heroic, or naive, perhaps even arrogant. The photo is of Pierre Coronel, operating a radio transmitter during World War II, while in hiding. It is one from a set of pictures. Listening to an illegal radio could result…
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The saying goes, “Music can soothe the savage beast,” but what if it is the savage beast that is using the music as a cynical form of evil and torture? In July 1942, Hans Bonarewitz attempted to escape from the Mauthausen concentration camp by trying to hide himself inside a box and was captured on…
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Every once in a while I come across a story which makes me immensely proud to be a native from Geleen. Those of you who read my blogs on a regular base, know that I was born in the town of Geleen in the south East of the Netherlands. Most of the Jews who lived…
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On September 15, 1935, the Nazi regime announced the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor (‘Gesetz zum Schutze des deutschen Blutes und der deutschen Ehre’). The law forbade sexual relations and marriages between Germans classified as so-called ‘Aryans’ and Germans classified as Jews. “–Section 1 Section 2Sexual relations outside marriage between…
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On may 15 1945 , Otto Frank wrote the following letter, while on board the Monowai steamship. This was exactly 5 years after the Dutch army had capitulated to the Germans. “The closer we get to home the greater our impatience to hear from our loved ones. Everything that’s happened the past few years! Until…
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Porajmos—sometimes spelt Porrajmos or Pharrajimos—means devouring or destruction—in some dialects of the Romani language, is the term for the Roma Sinti Holocaust during World War II. It was introduced by Romani scholar and political activist Ian Hancock in the early 1990s. He chose to use the term coined by Kalderash Roma when he picked it…
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The Holocaust remains the most devastating and horrifying chapter in human history, marked by its relentless dehumanization and systematic annihilation of millions of people. Among the lesser-known stories is that of the Schwanger Kommando, or the “Pregnant Command,” which existed in the Kaufering subcamps of Dachau, one of the many Nazi concentration camps. Background: The…
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A needle hums, its bite inscribes,More than ink, it brands their lives.A sequence carved, devoid of name,A silent scream in numeric shame. The ink sinks deep, a cruel decree,A name erased—humanity’s plea.Flesh becomes a ledger’s page,Etched in despair, grief, and rage. Not a mark of pride but pain,A scar that whispers what remains.The calloused hand,…
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When the Nazis rose to power in Germany, many businesspeople recognized opportunities in the new political climate. Some capitalized on the environment fostered by the NSDAP, particularly regarding the “Jewish Question.” They actively supported the Nazi regime, driven by self-interest and personal gain. Others, however, used their positions and influence to do good, helping those…
History of Sorts 