World War 2

  • An Uncomfortable Truth

    This blog is not intended to judge or assign blame. Instead, it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust by examining all aspects of that dark period, particularly the early days of the Third Reich. During this time, the Nazis successfully deceived many people, including those they would later persecute. The Association of

    Read more →

  • On Monday, January 27, we will remember the millions of victims of the Holocaust. This year, let’s not just say “Never Again,” but let’s mean it. These are some quotes of Holocaust survivors, use them as inspiration for now and the future. “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering

    Read more →

  • Betje Bierman was the second child of Levie Bierman and Sara Italiaander. She was born in Amsterdam on September 8, 1897, and married there on April 10, 1918, to diamond cutter Abraham Katwijk, the son of Jacob Katwijk and Sara Gobes, who was also born in Amsterdam on May 1, 1894. After Betje and Abraham

    Read more →

  • The Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history. This harrowing event took place during a six-week period starting in December 1937, after the Japanese Imperial Army captured the Chinese capital of Nanjing during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The atrocities committed during this time

    Read more →

  • This is the remarkable story of Edith Hahn Beer (Vienna, January 24, 1914 – London, March 17, 2009), an Austrian Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust by adopting a false identity and marrying a member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Her incredible tale of survival serves as a testament to human resilience and the complexity

    Read more →

  • Mengele’s Volatile Nature

    Initially, I set out to write a blog about Mengele’s experiments on children, especially twins, but I found myself unable to continue. The haunting images of those innocent eyes made it impossible for me to proceed with my research. What makes this all the more disturbing is a point I’ve raised before: Josef Mengele didn’t

    Read more →

  • The Bunalied, or “Song of Buna,” stands as a harrowing testament to the resilience and creativity of individuals subjected to unimaginable suffering during the Holocaust. Composed in the Buna-Monowitz subcamp of Auschwitz in 1942, the song poignantly reflects the daily struggles of prisoners and their unyielding will to retain their humanity amidst inhuman conditions. This

    Read more →

  • Who hasn’t heard of that warm, comforting beverage known as Irish Coffee? It is often mistakenly credited to Hollywood actress Maureen O’Hara as its inventor. However, her only connection to this iconic drink is through her husband, Captain Charlie Blair. Blair, a pilot, frequently flew seaplanes into Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, and piloted the last

    Read more →

  • Sara de Jong van Koningsbrugge was born in Schoten, the Netherlands, on 24 April 1914. The SS murdered her in Auschwitz on 21 January 1945 at the age of 30. Since 1936, Sara de Jong was married to Adolphus (‘Dolf’) Adrianus Petrus van Koningsbrugge (Amsterdam, 21 October 1913 – Heerlen, 15 June 1974). Based on

    Read more →

  • It’s interesting how research can lead you to unexpected discoveries. While looking into one topic, I stumbled upon something even more compelling: the photograph above. It’s an identification photo from the Herzogenbusch Concentration Camp, aka Vught concentration camp, in the Netherlands, depicting prisoner Martinus T. Barbier taken by the camp photographer on January 20, 1944.

    Read more →