The Hunter of Nazis Passess Away

Pisis · 09-20-2005, 12:39 PM

Famed Nazi hunter, Simon Wiesenthal, passed away in Vienna home at age 96.

Quote:

Simon Wiesenthal was one of the lucky few who survived the Nazi death camps of World War II. Unlike many other survivors however, Mr. Wiesenthal did not return to his pre-War profession as an architect, but instead became the world famous Nazi hunter, the conscience and voice for not only the Holocaust's 6,000,000 Jewish victims but for the millions of others who were murdered by the Nazis as well.

When asked why he chose his unique course, Wiesenthal explains, "When history looks back I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it." His work stands as a reminder and a warning for future generations.

In November 1977, the Simon Wiesenthal Center was founded. Today, together with its world renowned Museum of Tolerance, it is a 400,000 member strong international center for Holocaust remembrance, the defense of human rights and the Jewish people.

With offices throughout the world, the Wiesenthal Center carries on the continuing fight against bigotry and antisemitism and pursues an active agenda of related contemporary issues. "I have received many honors in my lifetime," said Mr. Wiesenthal. "When I die, these honors will die with me. But the Simon Wiesenthal Center will live on as my legacy."

www.jpost.com

S!

syscom3 · 09-20-2005, 01:12 PM

He was a constant reminder that some people have a limitless capacity for horrible evil.

While its interesting rto read and speculate about the weapons, tactics and strategy of Germany, we must not foget the horrors they inflicted.

evangilder · 09-20-2005, 02:06 PM

Well said, syscom3. We must never forget.

FLYBOYJ · 09-20-2005, 03:33 PM

Yep - he was an inspiration to all!

SM79Sparviero · 09-21-2005, 11:36 AM

Quote:

He was a constant reminder that some people have a limitless capacity for horrible evil.

While its interesting rto read and speculate about the weapons, tactics and strategy of Germany, we must not foget the horrors they inflicted.

In my opinion his message has subtle differences: ALL "normal" people have a POTENTIAL capacity for horrible evil.

Those criminal acts should not be related to all German people , neither all German armed forces and, more, neither all waffen-SS.

It is quite unprobable to see captain Langsdorff , major Rudel or general Galland as aware killers of defenceless people.....

syscom3 · 09-21-2005, 11:47 AM

All people have the capacity for commiting acts of evil. Some people act on them, and Germany seems to have had more than their fair share of them from 1933-1945.

Some members of the German military knew what was going on and refused to have anything to do with it. More than a few though knew what was going on and turned a blind eye.

Have you read "Hitlers Willing Executioners"?..... good read.

Pisis · 09-21-2005, 12:41 PM

Eliminating Jews, whatever this standed for, was Hitler's official policy and bumped him onto the peak of power in 1933... Thus everything German pre- and from WWII represents the evil.

SM79Sparviero · 09-21-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Thus everything German pre- and from WWII represents the evil.

Sorry, but this sentence is a nonsense.
I repeat, not all German people and armed forces were guilty for the crimes to Jewish, neither they created the first anti-jewish persecutions.

I ask: the word "pogrom" has German roots?

evangilder · 09-21-2005, 03:25 PM

While I will admit that the anit-Jewish rhetoric did strike a chord with the common Germans, I don't think a big majority of thhem had any idea what they had in mind. I also truly believe that there were many soldiers, sailors and airmen had no idea of the killing machine that was wiping out Europe's Jews. Sure there were some, but I don't think it was anywhere near a majority.

syscom3 · 09-21-2005, 03:53 PM

Oh they knew. They saw the SS killer squads go into the villages and commit their acts of horror. They wondered why badly needed trains were being diverted to haul jews and others, instead of bringing supplies to the front. The SS turned this genocide into an industry. Tens of thousands knew about it and talked about it.

The "good" german folk at home also knew what was going on in the concentration camps. In 1943, one brave German priest told his congregation that to stay silent in the face of such monstrosities was an abomination. How come he knew and the others didnt?

By the way, Mousillini and Franco (Spain) both told Hitler they were not going to hand over any of their Jewish citizens to the SS. Unfortunatly for the Italians, they couldnt do anything about it.

France on the other hand, was all too willing to hand them over.

evangilder · 09-21-2005, 06:06 PM

So you are saying that every single German knew and were complicit in this?

Erich · 09-21-2005, 06:22 PM

just for your information syscom, many German folk living within the Reich knew nothing of the concentration camps. Landser on the Ost front definately knew very very little as word from home usually compressed the facts about every day life and into 1945 the acts of the so-called terror bombings from the RAF and US. Even after wars end many Landser could not beleive that their govt. regime could devise such an evil as the camps to murder thousands/millions of people.

Friends of mine and familie that lived through the war and acted on Germanys behalf are quite embarassed to the point of lowering their heads when they talk of it..............the propaganda machine though for us hard to believe was that good in war time Germany.

to this day I know at least 4 vets that do not believe that Germany did this and that it is a propaganda ploy of the Allies to disgrace the common German soldier even after 60 years

syscom3 · 09-21-2005, 07:18 PM

Not every German knew about it. Nor did very many Germans commit the war crimes.

But then every German knew what the nazi's felt about jews. It defies explanation that hundreds of thousands of your fellow countryman are deported without anyone wondering where theyre going or whats going to happen to them.

Adolf Eichman himself said that the silence on the part of the German people was tacit agreement that the "final solution" was to continue.

Every soldier who fought in Russia knew what the SS execution (murder is a better word) squads were. They saw them go into villages. They heard the rumours.

Some brave soldiers refused to take part in this madness, and nothing ever was done to them. Too bad the huge majority didnt show some spine and speak up.

Erich · 09-21-2005, 08:04 PM

sorry but I must agree to disagree, you speak in generalities; not ever Landser on the Ost front knew of the SS Kommandos work. Too many Heer soldiers were on the front lines never relieved and fought to the end not having any clue what was done to the civilians in over-run villages and cities

evangilder · 09-21-2005, 08:39 PM

If you look at the number of normal Wehrmacht soldiers during Barbarossa, and then look at the number of SS men, the numbers are going to be way more Wehrmacht. The units of the SS operated in small groups and there were far less than there were regular Army units. There is no way that they ALL saw something.