travel
-
Amid all the horror stories of the Holocaust, every so often, a positive one emerges. I was sidetracked during my research on the Dutch entertainer Rudi Carrell’s life during World War II when the name of Abraham Bueno de Mesquita came up. Better known as Bueno de Mesquita, he and Rudi Carrell worked together in…
-
The story of the first McDonald’s restaurant is more than a tale about hamburgers and milkshakes. It is a story about innovation, efficiency, postwar American culture, and the transformation of eating habits across the world. What began as a modest roadside hamburger stand in Southern California eventually became one of the most recognizable business enterprises…
-
Neuengamme concentration camp was a significant and harrowing part of the Nazi concentration camp system during World War II. Located near Hamburg, Germany, Neuengamme was established December 13, 1938, and initially served as a satellite camp of Sachsenhausen. By 1940, it became an independent main camp (Hauptlager), and it was the largest concentration camp in…
-
Margaret Connolly, the sister of Ireland’s president Catherine Connolly, told RTÉ Six One News, yesterday: “My heart lies with the Palestinian people. We’ve had 800 years of colonisation by England. Why wouldn’t we come on the flotilla?” If she knew anything about her own country’s history, she’d know that technically she is incorrect. The English…
-
The 1965 film The Sound of Music immortalized the story of the von Trapp family as they fled Nazi-occupied Austria. With its sweeping landscapes, memorable songs, and emotional core, it remains one of the most beloved films of all time. But while the movie is inspired by real events, the true story behind the von…
-
This is a short poignant story but it has so much in it.A story of hope,survival,death, bereavement and most of all a story that tells us that life is a very precious thing. It is also a stark reminder that we have to remain vigilant to ensure that evil doesn’t win. It is the story…
-
The fall of Masada in 79 AD (some sources give another date)stands as one of the most symbolically charged episodes of the ancient world, marking the dramatic conclusion of the First Jewish–Roman War. Perched atop a rugged plateau overlooking the Dead Sea, Masada was not merely a fortress—it was a final refuge, a political statement,…
-
Isidor Straus and his wife Ida were prominent passengers aboard the Titanic. Isidor Straus was born in Germany in 1845 and immigrated to the United States with his family—when he was a child. He eventually became a successful businessman and co-owner of Macy’s department store in New York City, along with his brother Nathan. Isidor…
-
I don’t think I have to tell anyone who Elie Wiesel is, but for those who don’t know him, I’ll provide a brief overview. Elie Wiesel was born in Sighet (in Transylvania, now a part of Romania, but part of Hungary between 1940 and 1945) on 30 September 1928 and grew up in a Chassidic…
-
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…
History of Sorts 
You must be logged in to post a comment.