History

  • Delphine Anja Jennifer Drielsma Delphine was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on 19 June 1939. and murdered in Auschwitz, Poland, on 24 September 1942. She reached the age of three. A 3-year-old enemy of the state. Which state, though? In a world where shadows linger, cold and gray,A tender soul was taken far away,Innocence wrapped…

    Read more →

  • Rywka Lipszyc’s Diary

    Rywka Lipszyc was a young Jewish girl who wrote a poignant diary during her time in the Lodz Ghetto in Poland during World War II. Her diary provides a personal and intimate glimpse into the life and thoughts of a teenager living under the extreme conditions of Nazi persecution. In I945, Rywka’s diary was found…

    Read more →

  • I am always surprised why there is so little known about Danish war crimes in the context of the Holocaust. Is it that perhaps most of the Danish Jews survived? Are we, therefore, given the Danes a pass? Something I said many times before when it comes to the Holocaust is that none of the…

    Read more →

  • Elvis Presley attended Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated in 1953. While there, Elvis was not particularly notable for his academic achievements but was known for his interest in music. He famously received a C in music class. Despite this, he was passionate about his musical pursuits and often brought his guitar to…

    Read more →

  • Ravensbrück

    Ravensbrück was a notorious Nazi concentration camp located in northern Germany, near the town of Fürstenberg. Established in 1939, it was unique in being primarily a camp for women, although a minor men’s camp was added later. Ravensbrück played a significant role in the Holocaust and the Nazi regime’s system of terror and repression. Ravensbrück…

    Read more →

  • Tear Down This Wall!

    On June 12, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan gave a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, calling for the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to open the Berlin Wall. He famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” This moment is considered a significant event in the Cold War era, symbolizing…

    Read more →

  • A few years ago, I was asked to give a speech at my eldest son’s high school graduation as a representative of the Parents’ Council. I ended the speech with a quote from Margot Frank. “Times change, people change, thoughts about good and evil change, about true and false. But what always remains fast and…

    Read more →

  • The Lidice Massacre

    The Lidice massacre was one of the most brutal reprisals carried out by Nazi forces during World War II. It took place on June 10, 1942, in the village of Lidice, which was then part of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, now the Czech Republic. The massacre was a direct retaliation for the assassination…

    Read more →

  • A White Sea of Graves

    Beneath the whispering trees, they lie,In silent rows where poppies bloom,Their names inscribed against the sky,In fields that echo with the tomb. In foreign lands, on distant shores,Their stories linger, etched in stone,Brave souls who fought in global wars,Now rest in peace, their battles done. White crosses mark the endless sea,Of dreams cut short, of…

    Read more →

  • First-hand accounts from soldiers who participated in D-Day provide a vivid and personal perspective on the events of June 6, 1944. These narratives capture the chaos, bravery, and camaraderie experienced by those who were there. Here are some notable accounts: Omaha Beach: Charles E. “Chuck” Shay Charles Shay, a Native American medic with the 1st…

    Read more →