World War 2
-
Among the many operations planned by Nazi Germany, one of the most ambitious was Operation Sealion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), Adolf Hitler’s intended invasion of Great Britain in 1940. While it never materialized, the operation remains one of the most intriguing what-if scenarios of the war. Had it succeeded, the course of history might have taken a…
-
Introduction During the dark days of Nazi Germany, dissent was met with ruthless suppression. Among those who dared to resist was a small but determined student group known as the Weiße Rose (White Rose). Led by siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl, along with Christoph Probst and other members, the group sought to awaken the German…
-
Anne Frank was born on 12 June 1929. As we all know her story through her diary, I will not go into Anne’s story, but instead, I will look at a few other children who were also born on that day and who, like Anne, were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Levy Spanjer…
-
The killing of innocent lives wasn’t enough for the Nazis. A big part of the Holocaust was theft and deception. When the Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz, they came across haunting reminders of the 1.1 million people who’d been murdered at Auschwitz, including 44,000 pairs of shoes. Soviet soldiers also found 88 pounds of eyeglasses. The…
-
This is a bit of forgotten World War II history. I only found out about this today. From 11 May 1940, the Dutch military received support from French troops, who advanced to Zeeland by sea and via Belgium. Many thousands of Moroccan soldiers fought against the Germans in the French army. About 30,000 of them…
-
Amid the echoes of a time gone by,Where shadows linger and whispers sigh,Rest the suitcases in silent rows,Each one is a story of countless woes. Labeled with names, now lost to the wind,Symbols of hope that would rescind,Children and elders, families are tornDreams are abandoned, and lives are reborn. Leather worn thin by hands in…
-
Heidegger’s famous address, often referred to as “The Rector’s Address” or “The Rectorate Address,” was delivered on May 27, 1933, at the University of Freiburg. Its full title is “The Self-Assertion of the German University” (German: “Die Selbstbehauptung der deutschen Universität”). In this speech, Martin Heidegger, who had recently been appointed Rector of the university,…
-
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…
-
The smile of Henri Fragman , how Angelic. Those eyes tell so many stories. The story of a 5 year old who got his hands dirty playing in the mud, even though his mother told him to stay clean because she was about to serve dinner. The story of the boy who loved to play hide…
-
The phrase Arbeit macht frei (German for “Work sets you free”) is one of the most infamous symbols of Nazi oppression. Displayed at the entrances of several concentration camps, including Auschwitz, this deceptive slogan falsely suggested that forced labor would lead to eventual freedom. However, one unique and subtle act of resistance can be found…
History of Sorts 
You must be logged in to post a comment.