World War 2
-
In several European cities, they are remembering victims of the Holocaust by placing plaques in the streets where they used to live. The plaques are referred to as Stumbling Stones because people may stumble while walking on the sidewalk, and the purpose is to draw attention to the plaques. The plaques indicate the name, date…
-
Before joining the Nazi Party (NSDAP), Joseph Goebbels (1897–1945) held a doctorate in German literature but struggled to establish himself as a writer and was unemployed. His exceptional rhetorical skills enabled him to rise rapidly within the party, where he became a key figure in disseminating National Socialist, anti-republican, and antisemitic propaganda. Adolf Hitler rewarded…
-
It is important how you report on history. No one expects things to be always 100% accurate, but facts that can easily be verified should always be correct. In the case of Hanns Albin Rauter, I have seen him described as the Dutch head of Police during World War II, this is not true, he…
-
The German Reich Commissioner , in the Netherlands, Arthur Seyss-Inquart issued the second metal ordinance (Metallgutverordnung) on July 23, 1942. This meant, among other things, that the church bells would be requisitioned for the benefit of the German war industry. On October 11 of the same year, Seyss-Inquart referred to his decision in a speech.…
-
Tomorrow will mark the 83rd anniversary of the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto. Rather than posting photographs, I thought it would be better to read the testimonies of two who survived. On March 13-14, 1943, the SS and police carried out the operation, shooting some 2,000 Jews in the ghetto. The SS transferred another 2,000…
-
On March 12, 1938, Nazi Germany annexed the neighboring country of Austria (Österreich). This event became known as the Anschluss. The German term Anschluss means “connection” or “joining.” By annexing Austria, Nazi Germany violated both the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint‑Germain‑en‑Laye, which explicitly prohibited the unification of Germany and Austria. The Anschluss…
-
5 Months=137,346 deaths, that is the disturbing mathematical equation that could be made from the Jäger report. Not human beings, just numbers on a spreadsheet created by a man who claimed “I was always a person with a heightened sense of duty” The Jäger Report (full title: Complete tabulation of executions carried out in the Einsatzkommando…
-
Before detailing the capture of Rudolf Höss on 11 March 1946, it is important to highlight this pre–World War II event, which provides insight into the kind of man he was. On 31 May 1923 in Mecklenburg, Rudolf Höss and members of the Freikorps murdered local schoolteacher Walther Kadow at the instigation of farm supervisor…
-
Not every evil act was committed by a weapon or by sending people to the gas chamber. Some evil acts were much more subtle. Herman Heukels was a photographer and a member of the NSB, the Dutch Nazi party, Hermans’ weapon was a camera. He took pictures of several raids. His most famous pictures are…
-
I know this blog will probably stir some controversy, and I will more than likely be criticized for it. However, I hope you will read it with an open mind. If you do, you may realize that the question, “Who was responsible for the Holocaust?” is a valid one. Believe it or not, that question…
History of Sorts 