Later on I learnt that my uncle was indeed listed as NN, a ‘Nacht und Nebel’, prisoner who would disappear into darkness and mist never to be heard of again. In the case of the resistance fighter Jan van Boeckel they greatly succeeded. He is still a missing person. This storyline is my attempt to sabotage their succes. Continue reading Confronting tough truths
The logistics needed in the DP-camp were mind blowing, especially in the first year. In addition to receiving thousands of refugees, repatriating hundreds, and the day to day aspects, Kathryn Hulme and her team had to organise the ‘winterization’ in Wildflecken – the preparation for winter. Continue reading Kathryn Hulme – Managing transience
The Flossenbürg concentration camp itself is now a monument, although a few decennia back it was partly used as an industrial site. Along the perimeter there are homes of citizens on a terraced hill, which was part of the camp. Continue reading The book of names at Flossenbürg
Initially I went to Dachau as a gesture of respect to my uncle, who died when he was 22 years old at the hands of the Nazis in Germany. And I left Dachau with an incredible urge to find out how much really was known about his fate. That is the quest I am on at the moment. Continue reading From Holland to Bavaria: The quest starts at Dachau
Southern Bavaria in September. The goal was to see Munich and meet family at the Tegernsee and then go into deepest Bavaria at the Austrian border, … Continue reading Beautiful nature. Ugly history
…..The wooden arch at the camp entrance is gone but there is still a stone guardhouse. And there are still guards ….. Continue reading Visiting Wildflecken – in the footsteps of Kathryn Hulme
As internet is not readily available and I’m travelling a lot I will not be able to post much the coming days. I’m following the footsteps of Kathryn Hulme and visiting Wildflecken. l’m also seeing Dachau (something I’ve been putting off) … Continue reading Following in the footsteps of…
values are not universal Continue reading walls
For me Nature = Art. Continue reading “Urban gardening in Amsterdam”
It can get hot in Frankfurt. It can get so hot that the heat wraps around Continue reading “Endless summer in Frankfurt: open-air events”
A shipyard welder during the second world war, Kathryn Hulme joined the relief movement via the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) in Europe in 1945, after a few weeks training in France. Continue reading Kathryn Hulme working in a DP-camp near Frankfurt 1945 – 1949: Finding humanity in a homogeneous stream
Germany is intensely focussed on the large influx of refugees crossing its borders. It is challenging for the authorities to adjust to the high numbers and to deal with the xenophobic demonstrations and hate crimes taking place. But there is another side to the story. Recent … Continue reading Refugees, Germany and the rest of the world
Like Amsterdam with its developments along the IJ, Frankfurt is modernising the Main riverbanks. On either side of the river a boulevard stretches Continue reading “Frankfurt Main riverbank development and the ECB tower(s)”
Frankfurt is a green city and trees are an integral part of the landscape. I’ve already described the Palmengarten and the Botanical garden, which both have wonderful specimens, as do the big parks. Continue reading “Silent witnesses”
mogromo 