Have you heard about the secret Nazi files?
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NewZen (
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November 22nd, 2009
This story was aired on CBS on “60 MINUTES” about a long-secret German archive that houses a treasure trove of information on 17.5 million victims of the Holocaust.
The archive, located in the German town of Bad Arolsen, is massive (there are 16 miles of shelving containing 50 million pages of documents) and until recently, was off-limits to the public. But after the German government agreed earlier this year to open the archives, CBS News’ Scott Pelley traveled there with three Jewish survivors who were able to see their own Holocaust records. It’s an incredibly moving piece, all the more poignant in the wake of the meeting of Holocaust deniers in Iran and the denial speeches in the UN. We’re trying to get word out about the story to people who have a special interest in this subject.
It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This is in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russia peoples looking the other way! Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be “a myth,” it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.
** A recreation of the CBS program can be found on You Tube. Here are the links to “CBS Holocaust, Parts 1 & 2”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9cet2_LoJQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g63zTkDsxfM&feature=related
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13 Answers
I’ve not heard of it (don’t watch live TV) but am interested. Maybe I shouldn’t but I’ve always dismissed holocaust deniers as kooks because there are so few families I’ve ever met who haven’t been touched by it in some way or another.
I find it so hard to wrap my mind around that people could so adamantly deny the holocaust. I didnt know there was a secret archive either. Thanks for the post @NewZen
I recently read a book called “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak. Its about a little girl growing up in nazi germany. its a really wonderful novel and i highly recommend it.
No, I hadn’t heard. Thanks for posting this.
Thanks for the links; will be checking them out.
If I had heard of them, they wouldn’t be secret, would they?
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
On a serious note, for a vivid first-person account of life in Nazi Germany as a Jew, I highly recommend the diaries of Victor Klemperer
As a WWI veteran with a Christian wife, he managed to survive the war. He did not escape the sanctions, ostracizing, privation, violence and humiliations, and he recorded the details for posterity.
I Will Bear Witness by Victor Klemperer
The everyday life of tyranny – Thomas Powers examines the extraordinary diaries of Victor Klemperer
Holocaust deniers are still in the vast minority. The holocaust is not in any danger of being forgotten.
However there will always be that lunatic fringe that believes the earth is flat, we never went to the moon and the holocaust never happened. Their loudness does not make them credible.
Thank-you for sharing this very interesting story. The segment about the gentleman who was one of two not to goto Dora was especially moving. For some reason someone drew a line through his name thereby saving his life and he didn’t know. that brought a tear to my eye.
Maybe they’ll uncover the secret of Nazi gold!
@bright_eyes00 ; beautiful book. Try reading ‘The Messenger’ by the same guy.
I think it’s a pity they kept it closed so long.
@mattbrowne You always lighten up a thread with your intelligence and articulation. Thanks for that book – I’ll look into it.
How’s Westerwelle doing right now?
I heard, but not through CBS. I learned about it from NatGeo or the History Channel. Why am I not surprised the monsters kept files on everything?
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