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December 12, 2006
An Open Letter to the Members of the Institute for Political and International Studies of the Foreign Ministry of Iran
I understand you've just hosted an academic conference on whether the Holocaust happened.
I'd like you to meet my great-uncle Leopold. He was my grandfather's brother.
He was born in Wertheim am Main, Germany. He fought for Germany in World War I. He lost the use of his arm on a battlefield.
As an adult he moved to Bad Kissingen, in northern Bavaria. He had a clothing shop on this little square:
And he prayed at this beautiful domed synagogue:
In November of 1938, he was forced to sell his store to someone who wasn't Jewish, he was arrested and jailed for a few weeks, and his synagogue was burned down. It looked like this afterwards:
He was released from jail late in November of 1938.
In April of 1942, he and most of the rest of the region's Jews were marched through the streets of Wuerzburg, Germany, to waiting trains. Someone was good enough to document the march with a camera, so that it might be easier for you members of the Institute for Political and International Studies of the Foreign Ministry of Iran to believe.
Sometimes I like to think that's my great-uncle Leo in the front of the line, looking back over his shoulder at the camera. But that man seems to have two working arms, so I doubt it's him.
They had to leave their belongings behind at the train station.
I guess somebody told them their bags would come later.
Here's a Gestapo telegram that reflects the departure of my great-uncle Leo and the rest of the Jews for a transit ghetto near Lublin, Poland, called Izbica:
Izbica was a pretty lousy place:
That's the furthest I can trace my great-uncle Leo. I've read that many of the Jews who reached Izbica in April of 1942 were murdered at the death camp called Belzec, but I haven't been able to document that.
I do know, though, that my grandfather never heard from his brother again.
If we do hear from my great-uncle, I'll be sure to let you know.
Until then, though, I'll be working under the assumption that the Holocaust happened.
Posted by Eric at December 12, 2006 4:17 PM
Comments
One of the faces of the holocaust, an actual person who lived and breathed, hoped and dreamed.
Posted by: Mark at December 12, 2006 5:25 PM
I've been trying to formulate my expression to the Iranian "conference".
Thank you Eric, now I don't have to.
Posted by: John A at December 12, 2006 5:31 PM
What an excellent post -- concise and moving. It's a shame that most of the clowns at the conference in Iran are wholly immune to the logic of it, but this is a story that needs telling, and repeating.
Posted by: will at December 12, 2006 7:52 PM
Unbelievable that idiots are out there that deny the Holocaust. This is very dangerous and should always be met diligently.
Posted by: Rich at December 12, 2006 9:15 PM
Perfect letter! My regards and sincerest condolences. Best, Ben Davis
Posted by: Benjamin Davis at December 12, 2006 9:20 PM
Fantastic presentation. It really hits home.
Posted by: The Liberal Avenger at December 13, 2006 8:08 AM
I agree that the conference is outrageous. It is especially vicious and with no discernable redeeming value, save to exhibit the utter lunacy of our enemies in the Middle East for those who might be a little confused or unclear on the whole matter.
Nevertheless, like I said in an earlier post when I quoted Publilius Syrus: “We tolerate the usual vices but blame new ones”. We never stay surprised long at where we are. Iran is conditioning people, making them more callous. What gets a surprised comment today will only get a headshake tomorrow, and a shrug the next day. If Iran keeps it up, how shocking will it be in 5-10 years when Israel is attacked? Not very. Will our resolve to do something about it then be as strong as it is now? Not likely.
And they are smart, they will progress slowly and gradually. One day in the near future when all the taboo in this subject has been depleted, there will be jokes about the Holocaust on TV. If you don’t believe me, think about the things we see on TV now that we wouldn’t have 10 years ago. It is the natural progression of things in a world of moral relativism, one to whose creation we have all contributed. Unfortunately, there is more work to do than you can possibly imagine; venting outrage and trying to educate your fellow citizens on an isolated political issue here or there—“your” issue—will do nothing, because all political discord flows from a single source: excess, or the lack of moderation. We can’t prevent the new vices unless we eliminate the old ones.
On a personal level, Professor Muller you and your family have my respect and condolences, and though it may not seem too likely, I do hope you hear back from Leo.
Posted by: Tim at December 13, 2006 8:28 AM
In May 2005 "33" of us from California Baptist University went to Poland Czech Republic and Germany for 11 days. I visited places like Terezin, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Buchenwald, Bergen-Belsen,Sachenhausen, Dora Mittlebau. I am not Jewish and my mind was open to the entire experience so here are my unbiased conclusions. In a place like Disneyland they create fantasy worlds that make you believe are somewhere that you are really not. These places I went were "REAL" and the feelings that came up were hard to explain, at times I felt like it was hard to breathe as I walked through the gates of Auschwitz with "Arbeight Macht Frie" over my head. It was right there!!! Work makes you Free and all the while knowing that no one who came here would be free, it was a lie. These camps are out in the country side hidden. What happened there was a shameful thing and the Nazi German's who organized these massive factory style murder camps knew it was nothing to be proud of and must be hidden. This Iranian held conference is another shameful thing that must be hidden deep in a hateful nation so that other voices cannot be heard...It is a shameful thing they are doing and again the majority of the world knows it.
Posted by: Christopher Thompson at December 13, 2006 10:27 AM
thanks for the well documented text. I don't have so many pictures but both my parents were survivors of Auschwitz and did testify many times that gaz chambers did indeed exists, my father especially saw them as he removed the clothes from the so called showers while the bodies were burnt in the ovens. He remembered clearly the smell.
Posted by: massilian at December 13, 2006 10:41 AM
Luckily my family got out before the horrors. I am sorry your great-uncle did not.
Posted by: fiat lux at December 13, 2006 5:13 PM
I am sorry and hope crimes like this never happen to humanity.
Inshallah their will be peace.
Posted by: Muslim Unity at December 14, 2006 3:08 AM