World War 2
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The Budy Massacre of October 5–6, 1942, remains one of the lesser-known atrocities of the Auschwitz concentration camp complex. Within the women’s penal company (Frauenstrafkompanie) at the Budy subcamp, approximately ninety French-Jewish women were beaten to death by SS guards and prisoner functionaries. This blog reconstructs the event, examines its causes and aftermath, and situates…
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I have written about the bombing of Geleen before, but since today is the 84th anniversary, I thought it a good idea to revisit that awful day. Geleen is a town in the southeast part of the Netherlands. It used to be a mining town. Although the Bombing of Geleen was a devastating event, I…
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The Edelweiss Pirates, or Edelweißpiraten, were a group of loosely organized German youth who stood in open defiance of the Nazi regime during the Third Reich. They played a unique if often overlooked, role in resisting Nazi authority, fighting against conformity, and supporting anti-fascist efforts. Although they were not as coordinated or ideologically unified as…
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Fascism, a political ideology that rose to prominence in Europe during the early 20th century, left deep imprints on the history of several countries, from Mussolini’s Italy to Hitler’s Germany and Franco’s Spain. In Ireland, however, fascism remained a relatively marginal movement, confined to small groups and figures that never gained mass political support. Yet,…
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On August 16 ,1933 Hermann Göring announced he would put an end to the unbearable torture and suffering in animal experiments. He also threatened that he would commit to concentration camps those who still thought they could continue to treat animals as inanimate property. He decried the “cruel”experiments of unfeeling scientists whose animals were operated…
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World War II was a global conflict that tested the limits of human resilience, innovation, and ingenuity. In addition to the millions of soldiers, civilians, and military machinery involved, a vast array of animals played indispensable roles throughout the war. From dogs and horses to pigeons and even reindeer, animals were employed for various purposes,…
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Never Again are two words that are easily said. Though, do we mean them? Or are we just saying them to make ourselves feel better? Recently, I was called a “genocide junkie.” I didn’t judge the person who said it; I could understand where they were coming from. But I disagree—they are wrong. I write extensively…
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Dr. Johann Paul Kremer was a German physician and professor of anatomy who became infamously known for his role as an SS physician at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Holocaust. Born on December 26, 1883, in Stellberg, Germany, Kremer was highly educated and had a background in medicine and anatomy, working as a professor…
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The Lingiades massacre (also spelled Ligiades or Lyngiades) was a brutal war crime committed by Nazi German troops against the civilian population of the mountain village of Lingiades in northwestern Greece. On Sunday, October 3, 1943, German soldiers entered the village and murdered its inhabitants, leaving behind a scene of devastation that would become one…
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I fondly remember watching It Ain’t Half Hot Mum when I was a young boy. It was a British sitcom about a Royal Artillery concert party based in Deolali in British India. The soldiers would often put on shows where they would be dressed up as women. I never realized that this was quite common, not only…
