the Netherlands
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The ‘Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Years’ War lasted from 30 March 1651 to 17 April 1986. The “war” between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly is one of those curious historical footnotes that often draw a few chuckles. This conflict, if it can even be called that, occurred in 1651 during the First Anglo-Dutch…
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When you first look at the picture, there may seem to be nothing extraordinary about it. However, even a brief glance into its history reveals just how remarkable it truly is. The photograph shows a Jewish male choir from the Great Synagogue in Amsterdam. It was taken in March 1942. Although the deportations of Dutch…
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During the Holocaust, six million Jews were murdered. In 1933, there were about nine-and-a-half million Jews living in Europe. Worldwide there was an estimated 15.3 million. It gives you an indication of the impact of the Holocaust. The number of six million is often disputed, not only by Holocaust deniers but also, by people like…
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(Originally published 29 April 2022) The title of this blog does not refer to the verse in the bible in the book of Exodus chapter 16 verse 15, “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto…
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When reflecting on the persecution of Jews and others during the Holocaust, it’s tempting to judge those who stood by and did nothing, condemning their inaction and confidently asserting, “I would have acted differently.” However, the truth is, none of us can truly know how we would respond unless faced with the same horrifying circumstances.…
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I was reluctant to use the title, From Zero to 102 as the title, I didn’t want it to look like a review for a car. However, I couldn’t think of a more suitable title either. The 0 and the 102 are the ages of two victims of the Holocaust. This is how evil the…
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“In shadows deep where nightmares dwell,A chapter etched in history’s spell.Holocaust, your bitter tale,Of anguish, loss, and skies so pale. From ghettos choked with sorrow’s breath,To camps where darkness met with death,The human spirit, tested, tried,Yet hope, a flicker, never died. In ashes rose a solemn vow,To never forget, to honor howThe brave souls fought,…
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Jules Frank was born on April 11, 1886, in Fijnaart. He was married to Flora van Beek. He worked as a butcher and was highly involved in the Jewish community. Together with his wife, he was forced to move to Amsterdam. They arrived there on April 15, 1943, and were taken to Asterdorp, a ghetto…
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This is a bit of a deviation of my usual blogs but Phil Bloom has a significant cultural meaning to the Netherlands .The name Phil Bloom will mean very little to people outside of the Netherlands. She is an artist and actress On July 28,1967 she caused quite some controversy and a scandal. She was…
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Himmler, Seyss-Inquart and Rauter decided to set an example: the first round-up against Jews became a fact. On Saturday afternoon, 22 February 1941, a column of German trucks appeared near Waterlooplein,Amsterdam. The area was completely cordoned off. Young Jewish men were ruthlessly herded together on Jonas Daniël Meijerplein, in Amsterdam. On the following day, many…
History of Sorts 