Holocaust
-
World War II officially ended in 1945, but for many who lived through it, the war never truly ended. The fear it instilled often turned into paranoia and secrecy, rippling across generations and affecting even those born decades later. This is the story of my connection to World War II. Both my parents were born…
-
There were three groups of people in the Holocaust: The criminals who tortured and murdered; The victims murdered; and those who survived and were scarred for life—mentally and physically. The helpers were the people who helped the Jews and others to escape and survive. These are just examples of each group. The Criminal Hildegard Lachert…
-
This may be my most harrowing blog post yet. It’s one I won’t be sharing on social media, as it would almost certainly be removed. While I strive to avoid graphic imagery whenever possible, there are moments when it becomes necessary to confront the stark reality of what a deeply malevolent political ideology can bring…
-
Margard (Marga) Kaufmann, born in Gronau, Germany 10 November 1928. Murdered in Auschwitz on 3 September 1943, reached the age of 14 years. Marga’s parents were married in 1923 in Gronau, where her mother, Adele, had taken over her grandmother’s grocery store in 1918. Marga never knew her grandparents, Zilversmit. Her mother had four brothers,…
-
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and while this may be true, it can never tell the entire story. That’s why I believe it is crucial to listen to or read the testimonies of survivors, liberators, and even perpetrators to understand the Holocaust from multiple perspectives. Let us begin with the words…
-
Despite the dire circumstances she was living through, Anne Frank did not give up hope. It should be a lesson for all of us. The following are some (of her) words of hope—she was wise beyond her years. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”…
-
I know that some people will see the title of the post and will get the shivers. They will think it is going to be a story of indescribable horrors of cruelty. Perhaps a tale of experiments on women in Dachau. They might not even read the rest of this post because they might not…
-
One aspect of the Holocaust which is often forgotten is the other damage caused. What I am referring to is the fatalities caused by a lack of qualified medical staff. I am not sure if there is any data on that, but it stands to reason that aside of the 6 million or more Jews…
-
A father does everything for his children. A father provides for their needs, offers them comfort, and protects them. He loves them, hugs them, and tucks them in with bedtime stories. But how can a father, with all his love and care, become a monster to other children? Without hesitation or remorse, he killed thousands—many…
-
Some might think the title, Escape to Suriname—A Holocaust Christmas Story, is a bit contradictory. Dutch Jews were fully integrated into Dutch culture, and many would have participated in the Sinterklaas and Christmas celebrations. This story is about more than that, and one I was not familiar with. On Christmas Eve 1942, more than a hundred,…
History of Sorts 