the Netherlands
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Someone looked at this beautiful smiley face and decided he had to die. In a land where shadows silently creep,A small boy’s dreams are laid to sleep.Four tender years, too soon erased,In Auschwitz’s grip, his spirit faced. Eyes of wonder, wide and bright,Shining stars in the darkest night.A heart so pure, a soul so new,Innocence…
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From 1987 to 1997, I worked for Philips. It was a global leader in electronics and is still a leader in healthcare technology. In 1991, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. We were promised a profit share, but due to cuts, that never happened. Instead, we received a book about the history—100 years of Philips. 50…
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The “Westerbork Film” refers to a film shot by Rudolf Breslauer at the Westerbork transit camp during World War II. This film is a significant historical document because it provides a rare visual record of life in a Nazi transit camp. The film was commissioned by Albert Gemmeker, the Westerbork Camp Commandant in 1944. He…
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May 14, 1940, marks a significant day in the history of Rotterdam, as it was the day the city was bombed during World War II. During the early stages of the German invasion of the Netherlands, the Dutch army attempted to defend Rotterdam, but they were ultimately unable to prevent the Germans from advancing. As…
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In the dark of history’s cruel abyss,A child’s innocence—lost in the mist.Amidst the horror, the anguish, the pain,A young soul’s light, forever slain. In shadowed corners, where terror thrived,A child’s laughter, once so alive.But silenced now, by tyranny’s hand,In a world where humanity couldn’t stand. No tender embrace, no gentle care,Just the echoes of sorrow,…
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I appreciate that the speed of communication in 1945 was not as fast as it is now—but the Wehrmacht soldiers in Amsterdam on May 7, 1945, would definitely have heard that on May 4, 1945, Field Marshal Montgomery accepted the official surrender of the German army in Northwest Europe at his headquarters on Lüneburger Heath…
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In the shadows of history’s darkest hour,Lies a place where hope lost its power.Auschwitz-Birkenau, silent and stark,Bears witness to humanity’s deepest mark. Within its fences, anguish did reign,As innocent souls felt the tormenting pain.Their cries echoing through the chilling air,Beseeching a world that seemed not to care. In barracks cramped, they huddled in fear,Their dreams…
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Nieuwlande is a village in the Netherlands, located in the province of Drenthe, known for its unique history during World War II. During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Nieuwlande became a safe haven for Jews and others. The villagers, predominantly farmers, worked together to hide Jewish families and individuals, saving them from persecution and…
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The story of Emanuel Arnold Maurice Speijer reminds me a lot of that of Nikolai Vavilov, a scientist who sacrificed his life to save the seeds in the Leningrad seed bank. Emmanuel Speijer was more fortunate though. Speijer was an entomologist. Entomology is the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment, and…
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Just two names of people who should have never been murdered. Micheal van West was a florist. There is no records of his wife, Saartje van West-Goldsmit’s profession, but I will presume she was a stay at home mother. They were no threat to anyone–just two people trying to get by. Michael van West was…
History of Sorts 