The U.S. and the Holocaust is a three-part, six-hour series focused on the Holocaust from the American involvement leading up to, during, and immediately following World War II. This Ken Burns series stirred a lot of discussion, certainly on the Holocaust, but more importantly, on the United States’ failures in responding to the Final Solution. … More The Holocaust: Ken Burns and Assorted Thoughts
Is the assault on books, censorship or simply a warning to those who might be harmed or offended? Is it to keep one vulnerable person safe or to limit a subject or author? America is both a tolerant and intolerant country. There are tolerant and intolerant people. I am reminded of the Ray Bradbury book, … More The Trouble With Books (and knowledge in general)
The new book by Rosemary Sullivan (2022), The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation, is chilling to read. We know what happened to Anne Frank and the other seven who hid from the Nazis for 26 months, but less about the society where both betrayal and heroism existed side by side. Anxious to … More The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation
The world of documentary filmmaking has changed since the debut of this 26-part television series. I mention this upfront because of how history is now presented through recreation, actors, animation, point-of-view, CGI and other film techniques can, and does, change the viewer’s perception of historical events and the emotional connection to the story as depicted. … More The World at War (1973)
Fascism. We fought a world war over against fascist regimes in Europe and elsewhere, and yet it’s tentacles are poisoning America. Aside from climate change, fascism is the greatest threat to America today. That’s my view. If fascism was a dance move, it would be the goosestep. In the 1930s, fascism existed primarily in Europe, … More Fascism, But Can You Dance to it?
Outside of Osama Bin Laden, this was maybe the greatest manhunt in history. The hunt for, and abduction of, Nazi Adolf Eichmann. There have been a number of books written about the hunt and capture of Eichmann, including one by Peter Malkin, one of the Mossad agents involved in the operation. Neal Bascomb’s book The … More Operation Finale (2018)
Nazis have existed in some fashion in America since the 1930s. Pro-German groups sprang up touting the new German nationalism after Hitler’s rise to power. Even after World War II, Nazis did not evaporate, as refugees and German sympathizers found a connection in America. After WWII, the focus was less on Nazis and more on … More One Nazi is One Too Many
The Odessa File was a novel by Frederick Forsyth, a master storyteller of the mystery and action genre. Tracking former Nazis was of interest to various countries after World War II. Even before the war was over, Nazis were being smuggled out of Europe to safe havens overseas. We’ve heard stories that church and relief … More The Odessa File
Some films you never forget. And you shouldn’t. Forty-five years ago I saw such a film as a senior in high school. Night and Fog. Films about the Holocaust sear themselves into your brain. At seventeen, the horrors depicted in that film were unfathomable. Perhaps that’s why Mr. Gauthier showed us the documentary film, to … More Night and Fog
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