Rudolf Brazda, Who Survived Pink Triangle, Is Dead at 98 (last gay survivor of the Nazi death camps)

[Snoutport]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/world/europe/06brazda.html?src=me&ref=world

Another reminder of why the fascist right cannot win.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. You know when we laid my dad to rest

that is what went through my mind. Now that responsibility goes fully to the kids...

And today we had lunch with another survivor, she survived Auschwitz...

RIP Mr. Brazda, lord knows nobody deserved that,

[Snoutport]

2. so few survivors left.

we need all their stories.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. He told me a few before he died

and they do not involve the camps, but liberation... and I will leave them be... take my word on this. The only reason he finally opened on that... was because I have been in combat, so I would get it. Now the day the germans came... what do you want to know? It was not a nice day.

By the way if you watched defiance, since he knew the brothers, people didn't follow them because they were nice guys. They followed because they were not killing anybody.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. More information....

At 98, Gay Concentration Camp Survivor Shares Story

The Nazi campaign against homosexuality

[jwirr]

5. So many know the story of the Jewish victims but they do not know

the stories of the gays and the disabled and the descenters. Many even do no know that the total killed in the camps if you count all of them was more like 10 million. I do understand that the museum in DC tells the whole story. I thank them for that. I have never been able to push myself to go through the museum. This is a subject that shames me, scares me and saddens me.

I hope that his life after the war was a good one.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Actually, many don't even know the story of the Jewish victims.

All they know is that "a bunch of Jews" were killed. There are so many who don't know the story of those living with AIDS and HIV because all the focus is on gays. :eyes:

[jwirr]

7. I suppose you are right - I am 69 years old and that makes a difference.

I wonder how many teachers are including this era in their lessons anymore? It needs to be remembered.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. I agree. I am afraid it will go the way of slavery.

Now, it is taught slavery is bad. This was a bad system and mistreated people, but few actually teach about the horrors of slavery, even at college level. People really do not understand the impact it had on African-Americans and others, nor do they understand its impact today. We also see lots of ahistorical information and outright revisionism in regards to slavery. I really fear the Holocaust will suffer the same. But, I guess, that is the nature of history. I don't know.

ETA: P.S. Sorry I was kind of short with you in the other post, I was afraid it was going to take an ugly turn like the last two times this topic has been raised.

[jwirr]

13. America seems to be in historical denial regarding anything that

is bad in history: the Holocaust, slavery, treatment of Native Americans and almost any other issue that is controversial. This will not work out well for us. Denial never allows us to learn from our mistakes.

No problem - I actually did not take it as negative in anyway.

[cbayer]

8. Please note that this was moved at the request of the original poster.

[mitchtv]

10. lest we forget ,"Liberation" did not include Gays

in many cases they were required to finish their sentences in prisons.

[Behind the Aegis]

11. There were a few others who were also not "liberated."

Also, their property, bank accounts, and other assets were taken and never returned nor passed on to family (for those who did not make it). The gays, like the Jews, wore triangles that 1/3 bigger than most so they were easier to spot. Also, gays were not only brutalized by guards, but also by other prisoners, which, to me, is doubly sad.

[QC]

12. Why was this moved out of General Discussion?