Finally, they are opening the records

[trystinn]

Some days I wonder about what happened to our family who didn't leave Germany after World War I. And then I read things like this, and I stop wondering because I can't stand to let my imagination go there. Growing up, I knew men with these tattoos, ran my fingers over them and kissed their tears with all the gravitas a young girl possessed.

Every year, we lose more of our survivors. It was feared that the Shoah Project was all that we would have left of them until the Red Cross opened the archive.

American soldiers liberated Jack in 1945. On a personal effects card that he had signed at Buchenwald, there was reference to a number: A11832. Asked if he's seen that number before, Jack tells Pelley "I see it every time. You wanna see it?"

A11832 is the inmate number the Nazis tattooed on Jack's arm. "It’s there. And when I die, they shouldn’t cover up my arm. They should keep it like this, because when the good Lord will see this, I hope he’s gonna put me front row, center. Because I deserve it," he says.

More, if you can stand to read it,here

Humanity has learned so very, very little.

Comments

We are sick monkeys, read at your peril

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

What a great lady. Forgiving the Holocaust is seen about as the same as Holocaust denial in Jewish circles. That said, one of my Jewish friends who appreciates us begin pagan likes to tell me that we Jews know all about the Burning Times. *WEG*

When I was eighteen I went to Germany to visit one of the camps, and before leaving I told my Jewish grandmother what I was doing so we could talk about it if she wanted to. Her response? "Bring me back something from the giftshop" - she was pretty senile at that point. I've always found that hysterically funny in that way horrible things do. There is no gift shop - but think about it. What the hell would they sell?? Your very own vial of desicated Jew? Holocaust Build-A-Bear? Holocaust survivor action figures?

I have a very, very dear friend who absolutely lost it laughing at that story. Tears were running down her eyes as she came up with hysterical, disturbing ideas. Its hard to relate in print, you sort of had to be there. We now refer to such moments as "Holocaust Gift Shop" moments. Trench humor is pretty much the norm around here - Good catharsis, though.

Re: We are sick monkeys, read at your peril

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

I was a combat-arms soldier, infantry and armor, for 24 years. Dark humor I understand. There are some circumstances where the options are either to scream in pain or to find some ugly little reason to laugh. Most of us choose to find a reason to laugh.

Re: We are sick monkeys, read at your peril

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

I was kinda betting on that. *zen hugs*

Still think Simon Green should use that bit in his Nightside series.

Btw, I bit the bullet and joined the Military Pagan Network. Any advice or thoughts?