Holocaust Memorial Day

Today, the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auchwitz by allied forces, is Holocaust Memorial Day.

Today we remember all the many victims of Nazi persecution - six million jews, millions of Russians, Poles and Gypsies, and all the other thousands of people who were murdered either for what they were or for standing up against the idea of killing people for what they were.


The estimated number of victims of the nazis and their allies includes about:

5.9 million Jews

2-3 million Russian Prisoners of War

1.8 to 2 million Ethnic Poles

A large number of Gypsies - estimates range from 220 thousand to 1.5 million

About a quarter of a million people with disabilities

Between 80,000 and 200,000 Freemasons

20,000 to 25,000 Slovenes

5,000 to 15,000 Gays

2,500 to 5,000 Jehovah's Witnesses.

Trade unionists and activists of any party other than the Nazis.


It's no good saying "this must never happen again" because, around the world, things like the Holocaust of on a smaller scale have continued to happen - you only need to look at former Yugoslavia.

But we must make it as difficult as possible for genocide and persecution to happen, and we start by remembering all that happened, and especially by remembering the victims.

Comments

Tim said…
"But we msut(sic) make it as difficult as possible for genocide and persecution to happen, and we start by remembering all that happened, and especially by remembering the victims."

We could start by doing something about the South African Boers who now find themselves at level 6 genocide - something that the 'popular' press don't seem interested in.
6:33 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
This very serious point deserves a fuller response, so see next thread "Genocide today."
12:55 pm
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