History
General history issues, although a lot will be about WW2
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Most of you will think I am talking about the USA when you read the title. However, you’d be wrong. The America in the title is a parish village in the Dutch province of Limburg, known historically for its peat extraction. The Germans must have laughed, when they saw the name in May 1940. In…
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On May 30, 1943, the SS assigned Josef Mengele to Auschwitz, reportedly at his own request. He served as one of the camp physicians at Auschwitz-Birkenau—the largest of the Auschwitz complex—which also functioned as a primary killing center for Jews deported from across Europe. Among his various duties, Mengele was responsible for overseeing the Zigeunerlager…
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In his latest Holocaust novel, Dolan reimagines one of history’s greatest adventure tales by unearthing a scorching love affair long buried beneath the rubble of war. History and desire collide in Mrs. Wallenberg—and in these pages, you’ll discover truths about both that you never knew. The year is 1944. The place: Budapest, as Hungary’s Jews…
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When people hear or read the name of a concentration camp, they often assume there is only one camp. In fact, most main Camps had subcamps—Buchenwald had approximately 100 subcamps. (You can find the list of the camps at the end of this post.) This piece will show photographs of Buchenwald and some testimonies from…
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A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their home because of war, violence, or persecution, often without warning. They are not able to return home unless or until conditions in their native lands are safe for them again. • An asylum seeker is a person who is also seeking international protection…
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Football in the Netherlands did not come to a complete halt during World War II, despite the Nazi occupation and the hardships of wartime. Instead, it became both a form of escape and subtle resistance for many Dutch people. When the Germans invaded in May 1940, football matches continued under occupation. The Dutch football association…
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Amon Göeth was sentenced to death and was hanged on 13 September 1946 at the Montelupich Prison in Kraków, not far from the site of the Płaszów camp, the camp he had been in charge of until two years, to the date, prior to his execution. On 13 September 1944, he was relieved of his…
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German troops invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. The Nazi regime stayed in power in the Netherlands until May 1945. However, the Allies had already liberated the southern provinces in the autumn of 1944. Despite the occupation, life went ahead as usual for many, at least to some extent. The Nazi occupiers still allowed sporting…
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This morning, while driving home from my weekly shopping trip, I was listening to Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” Originally released as the fourth single from their 2004 album American Idiot, the song was written by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. It reflects on the death of his father in September 1982 and…
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It may be a naive notion, but I believe there are only two types of people in this world: good and bad. Bad people will always do bad and evil things. They may, on occasion, be charitable and do something good, but in the end, they only serve their own interests. On the other hand,…
History of Sorts 