Two Gun Bob
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2010
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Lest we forget. ''Whoever Saves One Life, Saves The World Entire.''
Watched Schindler’s List last night for the umpteenth time, I read the book Schindler’s Ark must be 40 years ago. This when the atrocities were still fresh in people’s minds. It is beyond my imagination how a human can treat a fellow human being. There must have been many German soldiers from those camps who went home after the war, who, would I say complicit? Not sure about that, probably would have to have a long think about that but witnessed an awful lot and they lived the rest of their lives without saying a word.
Yes, it's important not to forget what the German did and indeed what the Russians did to the Poles about the same time. The curtains have been drawn over those atrocities too - we have enough now to deal with perhaps.Watched Schindler’s List last night for the umpteenth time, I read the book Schindler’s Ark must be 40 years ago. This when the atrocities were still fresh in people’s minds. It is beyond my imagination how a human can treat a fellow human being. There must have been many German soldiers from those camps who went home after the war, who, would I say complicit? Not sure about that, probably would have to have a long think about that but witnessed an awful lot and they lived the rest of their lives without saying a word.
A lot of the camps had Ukrainian guards, not just Germans.Watched Schindler’s List last night for the umpteenth time, I read the book Schindler’s Ark must be 40 years ago. This when the atrocities were still fresh in people’s minds. It is beyond my imagination how a human can treat a fellow human being. There must have been many German soldiers from those camps who went home after the war, who, would I say complicit? Not sure about that, probably would have to have a long think about that but witnessed an awful lot and they lived the rest of their lives without saying a word.
I know, from a first-hand account from my father, who was there, that local civilians were rounded up and made to visit the camp. If seeing a horrendous sight like it was is not burned into the local folk memory, I don't know what more can be done.I lived maybe 5 miles from Belsen, there were older people living in the area who still didn't believe it happened and that's without the internet.
Sad thing is that humanity wont learn.
I know, from a first-hand account from my father, who was there, that local civilians were rounded up and made to visit the camp. If seeing a horrendous sight like it was is not burned into the local folk memory, I don't know what more can be done.
At the time, the locals claimed they did not know what was happening. That I can believe, because I don't know what's happening in Strangeways. But after being conducted through scenes that are better imagined than described, they certainly knew then.
Elon Musk could do with a visit to Auschwitz, it would act as a timely reminder.
2019 your post.I was partly brought up by a lovely woman who survived Auschwitz. She was a political prisoner who opposed the National Socialist Party. I learned a lot about compassion and politics from her and her family.
When I visited Auschwitz I got lost in a world full of thoughts and sadness. It really affected me. We had a survivor with us and again, he was a model of compassion, kindness and wisdom. All children in Israel visit and when you see them walking in formation in total silence with their flag in front it is sobering.
What shocked me on occasion was the rather loud (often American) tourists who ignored the signs and requests not to photograph certain areas, and people taking selfies in really sensitive areas. It isn’t that often that I get really angry but to see this happen when there are families clearly mourning and praying was shocking.
there are lots of publications that are good and in recent years lots of stories that have become popular. Some mentioned on this thread. All are relevant to a degree but if anyone wants a real and detailed history of the various stages of the holocaust have a look at ‘The Holocaust’ by Martin Gilbert. People often think that they know what went on in terms of the holocaust but to see accounts of the creative way in which the Nazi’s, particularly the SS went about industrial scale murder is mind blowing. Reading accounts of SS officers taking bets on how many push ups people could do over a bayonet before they fell on it and died (for fun because they were bored), or how in order to save bullets they stood people in a line three or four deep and used one high powered bullet to see if it would kill more than two or three people is sickening. It shows a total lack of any feeling towards fellow humans.
One of the questions that I was asked almost thirty years ago at my university interview was “if you were stuck on a desert island and could only have one book what would it be”? I answered the Holocaust by Martin Gilbert. The panel all looked at me like I was mad and one asked why. My response was “because it would remind me why sometimes being on an island away from the human race was not a bad option”. It caused a lot of debate but I got on and completed my politics degree.
if anyone really looks at how the hatred and fear developed throughout the late 1920’s to the mid 1940’s they will be fearful of what is happening right here, right now. People are accepting lies from politicians, media and often their own classes. It is a dangerous And fragmented world and things are happening at a pace that should make people sit up and really take notice. We are sleepwalking into a real problem on a national and international stage.
Years ago I worked at a place where two of the men were Ukrainian.Yes, it's important not to forget what the German did and indeed what the Russians did to the Poles about the same time. The curtains have been drawn over those atrocities too - we have enough now to deal with perhaps.