Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[tikay]

I have read a lot to do with the holocaust, I find it very interesting but chilling at the same time. I met an elderly polish couple once when I was selling door to door. They were among the nicest people I have ever met and when the wife reached out to pour some tea I saw her tattoo, and tears welled in my eyes.  They placed the sale but I took all of my commission out. I didn't tell them that, you don't embarrass proud people now do you.

I only had the pleasure of meeting my wife’s Grandfather once. He was a wealthy Jewish Russian immigrant that had lived in America for over 60 years. He had long retired into a gated community in Palm Springs and loved live playing golf and playing cards with his buddies.

He sat me down a few times and we talked about his past, he was a teenager in the war and found himself a POW camp, I never found out which one but it must have been one of those where very few managed to get out alive. Both his parents and brother died in the camp but he was one of the lucky few that managed to get out. He seemed open to chatting about this so I probed him how he managed to get away.

He pointed to a scar, lump he had on his head and touched it. This was his reminder of the times there and his eventual escape. He continued, most the guards where evil bastards and took great pleasure in causing pain and terror amongst the captives they would often come into their quarters where they slept and hit people randomly. After a certain amount of time he had simply had enough and confronted one of the guards. The guards were amazed someone not only had the strength but the courage to confront them about theirs acts of cruelty. The next thing he remembers was waking up in a mass grave around half a mile from the POW camp.

He managed to walk away and find refuge in a nearby farm. He believes the guards hit him on his head with a rifle and said he was dead and put in the mass graves along with loads of others, knowing full well he was not dead. He believes they rewarded him for confronting them in the living quarters.

I was not sure what to think when he told me this story, if it was true or not. He did say he was never sure if it was a good or bad thing having to leave his family in the camp knowing full well they would not leave. Ahh well I wont ever forget Fred Toben  he was my hero.

Oh my goodness - WHAT a story.

We will never know the whole truth. Perhaps just as well.

Man unto Man, & all that. And, unvelievably, it continues - in different shapes & forms - to this day, certainly in parts of Africa & Europe..

[Claw75]

Fantastic story Acid.  Whether or not those guards knew he was alive, fact is his bravery almost certainly saved his life.  That one act led to him having children, and grandchildren, and, soon, your own child being born into the world. 

[Kev B]

I have read a lot to do with the holocaust, I find it very interesting but chilling at the same time. I met an elderly polish couple once when I was selling door to door. They were among the nicest people I have ever met and when the wife reached out to pour some tea I saw her tattoo, and tears welled in my eyes.  They placed the sale but I took all of my commission out. I didn't tell them that, you don't embarrass proud people now do you.

I only had the pleasure of meeting my wife’s Grandfather once. He was a wealthy Jewish Russian immigrant that had lived in America for over 60 years. He had long retired into a gated community in Palm Springs and loved live playing golf and playing cards with his buddies.

He sat me down a few times and we talked about his past, he was a teenager in the war and found himself a POW camp, I never found out which one but it must have been one of those where very few managed to get out alive. Both his parents and brother died in the camp but he was one of the lucky few that managed to get out. He seemed open to chatting about this so I probed him how he managed to get away.

He pointed to a scar, lump he had on his head and touched it. This was his reminder of the times there and his eventual escape. He continued, most the guards where evil bastards and took great pleasure in causing pain and terror amongst the captives they would often come into their quarters where they slept and hit people randomly. After a certain amount of time he had simply had enough and confronted one of the guards. The guards were amazed someone not only had the strength but the courage to confront them about theirs acts of cruelty. The next thing he remembers was waking up in a mass grave around half a mile from the POW camp.

He managed to walk away and find refuge in a nearby farm. He believes the guards hit him on his head with a rifle and said he was dead and put in the mass graves along with loads of others, knowing full well he was not dead. He believes they rewarded him for confronting them in the living quarters.

I was not sure what to think when he told me this story, if it was true or not. He did say he was never sure if it was a good or bad thing having to leave his family in the camp knowing full well they would not leave. Ahh well I wont ever forget Fred Toben  he was my hero.

Fabulous story I can tell you are very proud of him. When people talk of hard times they would put it all into prospective if they read what these brave folk went through.

[tikay]

I have read a lot to do with the holocaust, I find it very interesting but chilling at the same time. I met an elderly polish couple once when I was selling door to door. They were among the nicest people I have ever met and when the wife reached out to pour some tea I saw her tattoo, and tears welled in my eyes.  They placed the sale but I took all of my commission out. I didn't tell them that, you don't embarrass proud people now do you.

I only had the pleasure of meeting my wife’s Grandfather once. He was a wealthy Jewish Russian immigrant that had lived in America for over 60 years. He had long retired into a gated community in Palm Springs and loved live playing golf and playing cards with his buddies.

He sat me down a few times and we talked about his past, he was a teenager in the war and found himself a POW camp, I never found out which one but it must have been one of those where very few managed to get out alive. Both his parents and brother died in the camp but he was one of the lucky few that managed to get out. He seemed open to chatting about this so I probed him how he managed to get away.

He pointed to a scar, lump he had on his head and touched it. This was his reminder of the times there and his eventual escape. He continued, most the guards where evil bastards and took great pleasure in causing pain and terror amongst the captives they would often come into their quarters where they slept and hit people randomly. After a certain amount of time he had simply had enough and confronted one of the guards. The guards were amazed someone not only had the strength but the courage to confront them about theirs acts of cruelty. The next thing he remembers was waking up in a mass grave around half a mile from the POW camp.

He managed to walk away and find refuge in a nearby farm. He believes the guards hit him on his head with a rifle and said he was dead and put in the mass graves along with loads of others, knowing full well he was not dead. He believes they rewarded him for confronting them in the living quarters.

I was not sure what to think when he told me this story, if it was true or not. He did say he was never sure if it was a good or bad thing having to leave his family in the camp knowing full well they would not leave. Ahh well I wont ever forget Fred Toben  he was my hero.

Fabulous story I can tell you are very proud of him. When people talk of hard times they would put it all into prospective if they read what these brave folk went through.

+1

[tikay]

Fantastic story Acid.  Whether or not those guards knew he was alive, fact is his bravery almost certainly saved his life.  That one act led to him having children, and grandchildren, and, soon, your own child being born into the world. 

What a great way to look at it. A truly astonishing story.

Acid - are you coming to bB7?

[Acidmouse]

Thanks, it's a story I am glad he talked to me about. He told me a fair few others too, maybe some time I can let others know. His route from Europe to America was interesting.

Blonde Bashes are something I had been rather unlucky getting to, holidays and birthdays seemed  to have clashed. But I must be honest it's not something I have really pushed to attend, the truth is I don't really like casino's, the idea of spending a day in one not a pleasant thought. If only we could have a blonde bash walking or visiting some interesting sites. Then I would be there like a shot...

[tikay]

Thanks, it's a story I am glad he talked to me about. He told me a fair few others too, maybe some time I can let others know. His route from Europe to America was interesting.

Blonde Bashes are something I had been rather unlucky getting to, holidays and birthdays seemed  to have clashed. But I must be honest it's not something I have really pushed to attend, the truth is I don't really like casino's, the idea of spending a day in one not a pleasant thought. If only we could have a blonde bash walking or visiting some interesting sites. Then I would be there like a shot...

I'm not exactly "comfortable" in large gatherings of people in Casinos, especially when there is rather more alcohol flowing than is perhaps wise, but I do hope you'll try & attend a Bash, thry are great fun, if only to help us all put faces to Forum names & personnas.

As to your suggestion of a blonde visit to an interesting site, or a "blonde day out" of some kind, to a particular site of interest, especially involving animal life, or natural beauty, I'm up for that!

[RED-DOG]

If only we could have a blonde bash walking or visiting some interesting sites. Then I would be there like a shot..

Now there's an Idea...

[Digger]

Thanks, it's a story I am glad he talked to me about. He told me a fair few others too, maybe some time I can let others know. His route from Europe to America was interesting.

Blonde Bashes are something I had been rather unlucky getting to, holidays and birthdays seemed  to have clashed. But I must be honest it's not something I have really pushed to attend, the truth is I don't really like casino's, the idea of spending a day in one not a pleasant thought. If only we could have a blonde bash walking or visiting some interesting sites. Then I would be there like a shot...

I'm not exactly "comfortable" in large gatherings of people in Casinos, especially when there is rather more alcohol flowing than is perhaps wise, but I do hope you'll try & attend a Bash, thry are great fun, if only to help us all put faces to Forum names & personnas.

As to your suggestion of a blonde visit to an interesting site, or a "blonde day out" of some kind, to a particular site of interest, especially involving animal life, or natural beauty, I'm up for that!

Spearmint Rhino's......... 

[AndrewT]

Thanks, it's a story I am glad he talked to me about. He told me a fair few others too, maybe some time I can let others know. His route from Europe to America was interesting.

Blonde Bashes are something I had been rather unlucky getting to, holidays and birthdays seemed  to have clashed. But I must be honest it's not something I have really pushed to attend, the truth is I don't really like casino's, the idea of spending a day in one not a pleasant thought. If only we could have a blonde bash walking or visiting some interesting sites. Then I would be there like a shot...

I'm not exactly "comfortable" in large gatherings of people in Casinos, especially when there is rather more alcohol flowing than is perhaps wise, but I do hope you'll try & attend a Bash, thry are great fun, if only to help us all put faces to Forum names & personnas.

As to your suggestion of a blonde visit to an interesting site, or a "blonde day out" of some kind, to a particular site of interest, especially involving animal life, or natural beauty, I'm up for that!

Spearmint Rhino's......... 

There's not much natural beauty in Spearmint Rhinos...

[phatomch]

what about a Blonde day out shooting when the season starts ? any takers?

[kinboshi]

what about a Blonde day out shooting when the season starts ? any takers?

Drive-by shooting?

[Dingdell]

what about a Blonde day out shooting when the season starts ? any takers?

Drive-by shooting?

Can we make up a list of the people we want to shoot - I have a couple..

[RED-DOG]

Secret Millionare.

I watched it for the first time tonight. FFS! I'm in tears here.

[nirvana]

It's generally a terrific programme, some considerably more heart strings tugging than tonight. Glad you caught it