Germany
Images of War
Young Ed Reep enters Bologna and photographs a brick wall marred by bullets under partisan blood, and shattered buildings lining the path of U.S. troops, and tanks recently hot now at rest, and a fascist’s hands touching the sky, and three citizens applauding from a balcony, and smiling young women as they rush to extend…
Read MoreYogi Meets Winston
Right, I’m the gatekeeper now. Of course, in my case, that’s with a lower case g. The Big Guy says with the world’s population increasing so fast he’s got to turn the job over to someone else and tend to running this place. My instructions are pretty clear: don’t let in any bad guys, you…
Read MoreSaudis Defend Refugee Policies
We in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are most chagrined by quite ignorant insults about our unwillingness to accept refugees from imploding Syria. It’s unconscionable, say arrogant Westerners, that the Saudis can’t welcome some of their Arab brothers and sisters who’ve been displaced by an enduring civil war; these refugees share the same language and…
Read MoreAlternative – 70th Anniversary of D-Day
Eleven days after the D-Day landing on June 6, 1944, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was driven to Adolf Hitler’s headquarters. Alternative By Field Marshal Erwin Rommel Hitler either didn’t believe what was happening, or he didn’t understand the implications. I was determined to explain matters face to face. So was Field Marshal Rundstedt. We repeatedly…
Read MoreHimmler Visits North Korea
I’m tired of people joking the Reichsfuehrer SS once gagged and almost fainted after seeing some civilians shot. I did stagger, yes, but didn’t fall or vomit and, after being helped away and recovering, I sent orders to continue shooting. That’s such a slow and messy process, I know. We don’t have any gas chambers…
Read MoreThe Chancellor
night hitler became chancellor said no power will get me out alive 1-30-33
Read MoreLast Bodyguard
I study painting like young Fuehrer but as he did abandon studio to protect Fatherland. Stalin’s hordes are occupying other half of Poland in 1939 when someone shoots me in chest. Go home, superiors say. No, I can still serve. They agree and I soon earn introduction to Fuehrer who speaks politely and allows me…
Read MoreBerlin Jewish Cultural League
What wonderful idea is Berlin Jewish Cultural League that comfortably immerses in arts we hundred seventy-five thousand Jewish Berliners who shall relax until Nazism disappears which will surely be soon. In meantime we have music and other outlets here and around Germany. It’s unfortunate but tolerable only Jews perform in orchestra and only Jews attend…
Read MoreGunter Grass’ Poem for Israel
Criticize Gunter Grass not for being anti-Semitic, which he isn’t, but for choosing the wrong medium to present “What Must Be Said” about the dangers and inequities of Israeli foreign policy. In the second stanza Grass is poetic rather than precise in stating Israel plans “a strike to snuff out the Iranian people.” The descendents…
Read MoreBerlin Wall Bones
under berlin wall rats chewed bones of lenin and stalin
Read MoreIvan the Terrible
identification card proves ivan demjanjuk guarded jews at sobibor death camp demjanjuk insists had to or die only handful of two hundred fifty thousand jews survived and no aged survivor remembers so ivan demjanjuk though convicted as accessory in murder of twenty-eight thousand was released to german nursing home pending appeal at least he’ll never…
Read MoreI’m not Hitler
Forgive anger for I have been abused. Though millions suffered more than I, we all ended alike, so I speak with humility and wouldn’t at all if not for most recent outrage which shall address in moment. First, I acknowledge years of good fortune. I was raised in affluent household of physician and charming and…
Read MoreA Jewish Girl in Nazi Germany
During the Los Angeles Book Fair at UCLA in late April, sun-splattered readers roamed by the thousands, and scores stopped by Tent 106 to talk to three other authors and me about our books. Mine is called Hitler Here. It’s a biographical novel, and the cover bears a menacing, pencil portrait of the man in…
Read MoreFrom Germany, a Comedy about Hitler
“Did you know they’ve been laughing about Hitler in Germany?” asked the publicist. “Now?” I responded. “No, I didn’t. They ribbed him quite a bit until he took power in 1933, and they still did once in a while later in the 30’s. But they had to be careful.” “This is different. They’ve made a…
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