After finding out at the International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen that there were Gestapo files on several of my relatives I was very excited that our next stop was Duisburg. This is where the State of North Rhine Westfalia (NRW) Archives are located. The building is on the waterfront of the inner harbor ofContinue reading “The Value of a Life”
Category Archives: Nazi
Terezín
I had a visceral reaction to Terezín. I’ve started this post several times over the last two weeks, and I can’t wrap my head around putting my reaction into words. I found the town of Terezín (it is a town now) to be completely and utterly depressing. You might say to yourself – of courseContinue reading “Terezín”
On the Way to Terezín
Our guide, Jiri, picked us up at our hotel. After a few minutes of introductions and small talk we climbed into his minivan and headed to Terezín. The drive there from Prague was about 45 minutes, and I used the time to explain to Jiri that my mother and her family were prisoners in TheresienstadtContinue reading “On the Way to Terezín”
It’s Time for a Miracle
This morning when I woke up and heard the news I was disgusted. NPR reports that Donald Trump wants to ban all Muslims from entering the United States (even US born citizens). Really? We actually have a presidential candidate who says ban people of a certain religion from our country. Wasn’t this country founded byContinue reading “It’s Time for a Miracle”
Reading of the 102,000 Names
Right now, in a small forgotten corner of The Netherlands, people are gathering and reading the names of the 102,000 people who were deported from Holland and murdered at the hands of the Nazis. Please spend a few minutes on the live stream and listen. You don’t have to understand Dutch to appreciate the enormityContinue reading “Reading of the 102,000 Names”
Under My Nose the Whole Time
While I was visiting my parents recently I took a few minutes to look at the bookshelf in their living room. There is a section on sailing for dad and The Complete Works of Shakespeare. There are atlases and dictionaries and several art books of the great masters. And then there is The Holocaust shelf.Continue reading “Under My Nose the Whole Time”
Research Dreams
Recently I have been delving into new questions related to my book. I want to know more about the falsified passport that saved my grandfather from being sent to Auschwitz. This is what I know so far: It was obtained from the Paraguayan Consulate in Bern Switzerland. I say “obtained” because I do not knowContinue reading “Research Dreams”
Perseverance in Research or the Importance of Good Spelling
One of the leads that I have not found an answer to in my research has been how my grandfather was able to get a falsified passport that helped to save his family. What my mother has told me is that someone who my grandfather did business with in Switzerland somehow obtained two dozen copiesContinue reading “Perseverance in Research or the Importance of Good Spelling”
Walking through the “isms”
During my visit to Holland to do research for my book I visited the different places my mother lived in Amsterdam during the war. Each one had a different feel and a different set of circumstances in the 1940’s and also now in 2014. Please come with me for a “walk” from house to house.Continue reading “Walking through the “isms””
Bigotry, Bullies and Brundibar
Yesterday I went to Boston to see the Central Square Theater production of Brundibar & But the Giraffe! The original opera was written in 1938 by a Czech composer, Hans Krasa with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister. Krasa, a Jew, was imprisoned at Theresienstadt and later murdered in Auschwitz. Hoffmeister survived the war, but diedContinue reading “Bigotry, Bullies and Brundibar”
K Heidi Fishman (Popje and Me) 