Category Archives: Holocaust
Next trip: Krakow
Apparently, studying at a distance-education university does not only mean that I can study from anywhere, but also that they are taking me on trips. As part of my studies in history, I’ll be going on a field trip to Poland, starting … Continue reading
Germany 1945-1949
These two films illustrate – with quite drastic footage, you are warned – what the Allied powers thought of Germany immediately after the end of World War II. They did see, correctly in my view, a continuity of German militarism … Continue reading
Sean Spicer explains Gas Chambers
Pro tip: if you want to make historical comparisons, read a bit about history before you do so. Saying about Hitler that “he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing” displays … Continue reading
Kaunas: European Capital of Culture 2022
As with the choice for 2021, I agree with the election of the European Capital of Culture for 2022. It will be Kaunas in Lithuania. Sadly and inexplicably, during my whole year in Lithuania, I only found one day to visit … Continue reading
Book Review: “Alone in Berlin” by Hans Fallada
When a novel becomes an international bestseller 62 years after its original publication, there has to be something to it. Jeder stirbt für sich allein by Hans Fallada was published in Germany in 1947 and finally got translated into English … Continue reading
A Walk around Iași
I only spent one day in Iași in the far east of Romania, which is the far east of Europe for most of my readers anyway, when I was on the way back from Moldova, even further east. But fear not, … Continue reading
Easily Confused (60) Dehumanization
Dehumanization of Jews in Nazi propaganda: (Source: Der Giftpilz by Ernst Hiemer, published in Germany in 1938.) Dehumanization of Syrian refugees by Donald Trump: All that reading of Nazi literature really left its mark.
Book Review: “Golden Holocaust” by Robert Proctor
This will be a short book review because Robert Proctor’s book about the dangers of tobacco, smoking and cigarettes can be dismissed outright after reading the title and the introduction. Although I occasionally smoke cigars, I know it’s neither healthy … Continue reading
Elie Wiesel, 1928-2016
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. I highly recommend Elie Wiesel’s book Night, a short but powerfully moving biography-novel.
German history follows me all the way to Bolivia
Zur deutschen Fassung dieses Artikels. A few days ago in Santa Cruz, in eastern Bolivia: The Orient Express on which I had come from San José de Chiquitos, even further in the east of the country, was delayed by an hour. Thus, I had … Continue reading
The Happy Hermit 