OT For once I said something worthwhile

[nanamouse]

I recently recieved an English translation from the Holocaust Researcher in Hamburg of the section of her book on my fathers family. There it was, all the answers, after all these years. Their full names, birthdays, the place and dates of their deaths, and even short biography's of most of them.

Some of it was a bit traumatic, my oldest aunt died in Ravensbruck on her 31st birthday. I wonder if she even knew it was her birthday? A cousin I never knew existed (he was born after Daddy was arrested) who along with the other 14 children in the orphanage died in Auschwitz before he was even 4 years old. Daddy was there at that time, maybe he saw him and hadn't a clue it was his sisters son.

While still shaken after reading it I wrote her, thanking her for all her work, and telling her how much it meant to me to have this closure. I just recieved her response, she and her colleagues have asked permission to use my comments as the intro to their book.

I know it won't be widely read, mostly by students of that period, but I'm so proud (and simultaneously humbled) by the thought that I have played a small part in what I feel to be a memorial to all who died or had their lives destroyed in that time.

Shocking! That must have been quite a task. What a horrible time in history.

[dlaura]

Congrats Jennie that your words will be used like that and be a written memorial to the family you've lost. That is really nice they are going to use your thanks in their book - even if it isn't read widely it is still there.

I am sorry your family had such a tragic history/life.

[nanamouse]

Originally Posted by dlaura

I am sorry your family had such a tragic history/life.

I think if you go far enough back, there is tragedy in every family history. It may be a little more recent for some than others, but wouldn't it be nice if we could prevent it from happening in the future?

[Macawpower58]

What a fitting memorial to you, yours, and so many others. You must be quite touched at this request to use your words. How sad to learn of the life they had, but closure and knowledge is always good, and helps with healing old wounds and aching hearts.

I'm happy for you.

I have a book called Kinderlager and it's about the stories of four girls during the Holocaust, and it is so sad.

Nana, I'm deeply sorry your family had to go through that terrible time. We can just be thankful we're here here and now.

And, that's so neat they'll be using your words! There's a picture of my brother and me catching stuff from tidepools in some ocean book somewhere.

[Ltlpistol]

That is awesome Nana. My mother's uncles were killed during that time, but on the battlefront, not in camps. I hope that we never forget that part of our history, and that we don't let those idiots that are trying to say it never happened succeed.

[nanamouse]

Originally Posted by Ltlpistol

I hope that we never forget that part of our history, and that we don't let those idiots that are trying to say it never happened succeed.

Yeah, an old man came in at work last month, and said he was the last surviving member of his WWII army unit. When the liberators are all gone, and the camp survivors, whats left but history books?

[Julia423]

I've always found your words insightful, humorous, and thought provoking. I'm glad that someone else has seen that too. How wonderful to become a part of preserving history.

[dogpastor]

Jenna --

I was really moved that you can speak of that time in your families' history with such obvious emotion and yet such grace. I'm glad you connected with that part of your family story.

Thanks so much for sharing.

Scott

[e1beth1]

It's amazing the work you've done to find your family's history, no matter how tragic it is, it's still a piece of you. How wonderful it is for them to honor you in such a way.

My mother-in-law's parents were German. My grandmother-in-law spent WWII as a Red Cross nurse in Austria. It was amazing though to hear her take on the war, most of the men in her family were pressed in service for Germany. So many of those common soldiers fought out of fear for the safety of their families under the horrors of Nazi Germany. It's absolutely amazing the scope of terror in Europe during that time.

[nanamouse]

Originally Posted by e1beth1

So many of those common soldiers fought out of fear for the safety of their families under the horrors of Nazi Germany. It's absolutely amazing the scope of terror in Europe during that time.

Every time I hear of some elderly man being arrested for Nazi war crimes I have to wonder what is the point now? If he has lived 60 years without attracting attention, then he has probably not killed or tortured any one in that time, and probably did what he had to then in order to survive. The true monsters of that era would not have been able to live out their lives without violence, what purpose does it serve to prosecute these old men who were as much victims of the times as their victims were now? It isn't a deterrant, look whats happening in several African countries.

While I hope we never forget, I think it's time to forgive.