The Christian, the Muslim and the Jew [amazing story]

The Belmont Club | February 21, 2006 | Wretchard

[68skylark]

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For more from The Belmont Club, click here.

[68skylark]

There's not a lot one can say in response to this column. The bravery of people who fought the Nazis in WWII just amazes me.

That spirit is still alive today in many places. We shake our head at the appeasers and the pro-defeat crowd. But let's not forget our warriors overseas, and all the pro-victory, pro-freedom people everywhere. And that includes our allies, whether they're Muslim, Christian, or Jew, or whatever.

[WIladyconservative]

Fascinating - thanks for sharing it with us.

[fortunecookie]

There's not a lot one can say in response to this column. The bravery of people who fought the Nazis in WWII just amazes me. That spirit is still alive today in many places. We shake our head at the appeasers and the pro-defeat crowd.

Thank you, an amazing and fascinating story, one that bears repeating. It amazes me, too, still. It's refreshing in this era of appeasers and pro-defeatists to hear of courage and be reminded that some still posess these qualities.

[Woodstock]

Good post. Thank you.

[LS]

Agreed. One thinks of our Filipino allies in WW II, who were particularly brutalized by the Japanese---even worse than our "Death March" troops.

[68skylark]

One thinks of our Filipino allies in WW II, who were particularly brutalized by the Japanese---even worse than our "Death March" troops.

Good point. There are examples of this sort of resistance from all over the world during WWII. The Philippines offers especially strong examples.

[Monterrosa-24]

Those last three months of the war took such a toll in the camps. So many, like Dietrich Bonhoffer, like Elie Wiesel's father, like these women, were executed or died from diesease so close to liberation.

[68skylark]

Yeah, during the last few months of the war, when the Nazis could have slacked off on the murder and the killing work routines, they chose instead to re-double their efforts.

If you go over to The Belmont Club, you'll see a second blog entry with photos and first-hand reports from the U.S. 45th Infantry Division at the liberation of Dachau. I'm a little surprised at the reports that U.S. troops mascaraed German guards. But I'm only a little bit surprised by these reports, and not very bothered by them.

[LS]

Guess this is the point for some light-heartedness:

The British recruited the Ghurkas, a group of fierce Indian soldiers, to paradrop into Japanese-held territory. When they got to the drop point, the British commander instructed them, in English, that they would jump at 1,000 feet.

When the sergeant-translator informed them, they became agitated, and the Brit commander asked what was wrong.

"Sahib, they request that we jump at 500 feet."

"They can't do that," said the Brit. "There wouldn't be enough time for their parachutes to open."

The sergeant smiled and spoke again to the men, who all nodded and grinned.

"It's fine Sahib."

"I don't understand, what was wrong?" asked the British officer.

The translator replied, "They didn't know they got parachutes, Sahib."

[Draco]

I'm a little surprised at the reports that U.S. troops mascaraed German guards. But I'm only a little bit surprised by these reports, and not very bothered by them.

I researched the US Army's arrival at Dachau as my grandfather "did time" there, though before the camp's liberation in 1945. The troops were aghast at what they found. The pictures don't capture the stench and the sound. I would not use the word "massacre" to describe the US soldier's actions. They had seen their own slaughtered and still felt themselves in hot pursuit of the enemy. Also, they did not want to spend their time dealing with NAZI prisoners who would be a continuing burden -- and detract from their efforts, given limited resources -- to tend and possibly save the innocent. Consider it battlefield triage. Do not be "bothered" at all.

[Casekirchen]

Good article.



However, is there a moral, ethical, legal difference between these women spies & saboteurs and terrorists / sympethizers who infiltrate America today?

[Casekirchen]

Let me clarify --- I am not looking for a simplistic America good, nazi socialists bad response because from a terrorists point of view, he is good and America is bad.

[68skylark]

However, is there a moral, ethical, legal difference between these women spies & saboteurs and terrorists / sympethizers who infiltrate America today?

Your question is breathtaking. How can you ask such a thing?

[68skylark]

Thanks! I think I heard that somewhere in the past. But it's been awhile and I'm very glad to hear it again.

[68skylark]

Do not be "bothered" at all.

I think you and I are pretty much in agreement here.

[Alouette]

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel/Russian Jewry ping list.

Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

[Casekirchen]

Quite easy actually. I am taking a morals & ethics course. Looking for discussion on this question because it is all but identical to one we are in the middle of working through.

Question stands, is there a moral & ethical difference between someone who is doing good (under their belief system) by doing harm to you; vs you when you (under your belief system) are the good guy.

[Alouette]

Hannah Szenes (Senesh) was born to an assimilated Jewish family in Hungary. Her father, Béla Szenes, a journalist and playwright, died when she was six years old. She continued to live with her mother Katherine Szenes and a brother.

Szenes entered a private protestant girl's school open – with increased tuition – to Catholics and Jews. However, when she was elected to the school's literary society, she could not take the office in the anti-Semitic atmosphere. She joined Maccabea, a Hungarian Zionist student organization.

Szenes graduated 1939 and decided to move to study in the Girls' Agricultural School at Nahalal in Palestine. In 1941 she joined a kibbutz called Sedot Yam and also joined the Haganah. February 4, 1942 she visited Caesarea. In 1943 she enlisted in the British army. In 1944 she began paratrooper training in Egypt for the British SOE.

On March 15, 1944 she and her companions were parachuted into Yugoslavia and joined a partisan group. In May 13th, 1944, Hannah and her comrades crossed the Hungarian border in small groups. She was captured before she could begin her mission and was interned in the Horthy Miklos Prison where she was tortured. She did not talk even when the guards threatened to torture her mother as well. The mother was eventually released.

Szenes communicated with other prisoners with large cut-out letters she placed in her window one at the time. She tried to keep their spirits up by singing.

Hannah Szenes went on trial for treason on October 28, 1944. There was an 8 day postponment to give the judges more time to find a verdict, followed by another postponment, this one due to the appointment of a new Judge Advocate. Hannah was executed by a firing squad before the judges had even found her guilty. She kept diary entries up until her last day, November 7, 1944. Her remains were brought to Israel in 1950 and buried in the cemetery on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem.

Szenes' diary was published in Hebrew in 1946.

After the Cold War, a Hungarian military court officially exonerated her. Her kin in Israel were informed November 5, 1993.

Hannah Szenes is considered a national heroine to Israel, and is an inspiration to Jewish adults and children all around the world

[nickcarraway]

Recently Posted thread on a book about Khan: New book on WWII Indo-Brit agent