Auschwitz
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Primum non nocere is a Latin phrase meaning “first, do no harm.” The concept of non-maleficence, derived from this maxim, is one of the core principles of bioethics taught to all healthcare students and embraced as a fundamental ethical standard worldwide. However, many Nazi physicians egregiously violated this principle, with Karl Brandt standing out as…
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Many people believe there were only a handful of concentration camps during the Holocaust, but in reality, there were over 44,000 camps and incarceration sites. The Nazis categorized camps into transit camps, extermination camps, forced labor camps, concentration camps, and prisoner-of-war camps. Despite their different classifications, the overarching purpose of most of these camps was…
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Among the ranks of the SS were many evil men, some of whom seemed to take particular pleasure in their cruel deeds. Otto Moll, a notorious SS officer, was arrested by the Nazis on April 29, 1945, following the liberation of Dachau by the US Army. Before his tenure at Dachau, Moll held various positions…
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Friedrich “Fritz” Pfeffer was born on April 30, 1889, in Gießen, Germany, into a Jewish family that owned a bustling clothing store in the city’s center. Bright and ambitious, Fritz pursued dentistry in Berlin, eventually establishing a successful practice. After completing his education, Fritz trained as a dentist and jaw surgeon, obtained a license to…
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The Foundation for Individual Insurance Claims Sjoa (Stichting Individuele Verzekeringsaanspraken Sjoa) pays out life insurance policies of individuals who were persecuted as Jews during the Second World War in the Netherlands to their rightful beneficiaries. They have a list of approximately 2,500 individuals with life insurance policies that were likely not paid out to the…
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I recently finished am reading Animation under the Swastika: A History of Trickfilm in Nazi Germany, 1933–1945. This compelling book delves into the history of how Hitler and Joseph Goebbels sought to rival Hollywood, particularly the works of Walt Disney. It provides a fascinating and often chilling account of how animation was weaponized as a…
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My mother was born on December 10, 1935, and passed away on January 26, 1996, at the age of 60. It felt far too young, but I took solace in the fact that she lived a full life, witnessing all her children grow up and settle into their lives. Sigmund Cohen, born on the same…
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The surname Klein has always intrigued me, likely because it’s my name. At some point, one of my ancestors altered it from Klein to de Klein for reasons that remain unknown to me. While Klein is traditionally a Jewish surname, it is also carried by others, such as Dr. Fritz Klein. When you search for…
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In January 2017, Polish historians unveiled what they claim to be the most comprehensive roster of Nazi SS commanders and guards at Auschwitz, aiming to ensure that any surviving perpetrators might still face justice. This monumental effort, spearheaded by the state-run Institute of National Remembrance, is titled the SS KL Auschwitz Garrison List. It draws…
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Salomon Cohen was the second of three children born to Joseph Cohen and Federika Gozina Godschalk. He was born on July 14, 1907, in Gorredijk, a small town in Friesland, the Netherlands. Like his father, Salomon followed the trade of a butcher. On June 10, 1936, he married Roosje de Wilde, the daughter of Gerson…
History of Sorts 