Category Archives: History

Die Pogromnacht und das Leid der Palästinenser

Beim Gedenken an die Opfer der anti-jüdischen Pogromnacht vom 9. November 1938 konnte sich ein Redner, Alfred Grosser, die Forderung nach der Anerkennung des Leids der Palästinenser nicht verkneifen: Man könne von keinem Palästinenser verlangen, “daß er die Schrecken der Attentate versteht, … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Holocaust, Israel, Politics | Tagged , | 73 Comments

Fireworks for Bonfire Night 2010 at Blackheath in London

Every first week in November, all over Great Britain fireworks are lit up for “Bonfire Night” to commemorate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A group of English Catholics around Guy Fawkes had conspired to kill King James I and to … Continue reading

Posted in History, London, Travel, UK | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Messing with Mythology

Having no inclination for product placement, I still have to tell you what came to my mind when I was shopping for shaving equipment recently. I saw Gillette‘s “HydraGel” (pictured left) innocently sitting on the shelf, and I was just … Continue reading

Posted in Greece, History, Language, Libya | Tagged | 4 Comments

“The Foreign Correspondent” by Alan Furst

I like spy novels and I have always longingly admired the profession of foreign correspondents. As I finally wanted to read one of Alan Furst‘s spy novels, all set against a historical background, it was therefore natural for me to … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Germany, History, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

A new Chess War?

Alik Gershon has set a new world record for the most chess games played simultaneously by one player: He played against 523 people, moving from one board to the next in a Tel Aviv square. He only lost 11 of … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, Iran, Israel, Politics, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How about some Waffen-SS on the weekend, son?

Richard Iott is the Republican candidate for the 9th Congressional District in Ohio. He is also the father of a son and came up with an interesting idea for what to do with his son on weekends. As a “father-son … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Holocaust, Military, Politics, USA, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

A (very short) response to Holocaust denial

Whenever I meet someone who denies the Holocaust, I want to punch them in the face and say: This punch did not happen. And if it did happen, it happened on a much lesser scale. Too bad this doesn’t work … Continue reading

Posted in Germany, History, Holocaust, Israel, Photography, Politics | Tagged , , | 14 Comments