LILLYLADY: (pg 2)
When the Poles became aware of the Jewish cargo on their way to Poland, they closed the border. “No more Jews” was the order. With Polish machine guns facing them, and German bayonets pointed at them from behind, the Jews were stranded in no-man’s land. Jewish welfare organisations were allowed to hastily erect some shelter. The circumstances were grim and food was short, while the Poles and Germans argued for two or three days. Eventually the Poles were forced to accept this by-now dejected, hungry and tired mass of humanity.
The largest number of Jews - including my father - were interned in Zbaszyn, a small Polish border town, for several months, before being relocated to the Warsaw Ghetto. My own father was among them, but I was fortunate to have been away on the day of the arrests, and so escaped almost certain death.
At least one Jew refused to take it lying down. A 17-year-old old German-born Polish Jew, Hershel Grynspan, who lived illegally in Paris, received a postcard from his family telling him of their deportation and desperate plight. He became so enraged that he called at the German Embassy in Paris, asked for the Ambassador, and when taken to Ernst Vom Rath, a third secretary, he drew a pistol and shot him. Vom Rath died of his wounds on November 7.
This was the trigger for the “spontaneous” pogroms of 2-3 days later that became known as Kristallnacht. It is documented that plans for such an outrage had been planned in great detail and that Himmler had only been waiting for a suitable moment to implement them.
When Hershel Grynspan was arrested by French police, he protested: “Being a Jew is not a crime. I am not a dog, and I have a right to exist on this earth. Wherever I have been I have been hounded like an animal.” There are conflicting reports about his fate, but it can be safely assumed that he did not survive the war.
Let us never forget the brave Hershel Grynspan of blessed memory.
The photograph, from the Yad Vashem archives, shows deported Polish Jews waiting for soup in Zbaszyn. The man with the light colored hat, standing behind the one with the light-colourd cap, right by the kettle. is my father. Had I been at home at the time, I also would have been standing there then - but not for very long.
And there are some Goons burning to repeat Kristallnacht,and initiate another Final Solution!When I listen to some of those 20-30 yo Neo-Nazis here in Europe,who think it is chick to push for a repeat,my Blood starts to boil!
