LET THEM SEE WHAT THEY ARE FIGHTING AGAINST

Something I saw on television today impacted greatly. The following stories are paraphrased from the Ken Burns "G.I. Jews" series. 

***An 85 year old professor was talking about his experiences during WWII. While beginning very formerly, as he got to the main topic, he broke up, tears sprang to his eyes, he trembled, and he said, "As we came over the ridge, and marched into a Nazi death camp, we realized we had been involved in a kind of crusade." 

***A couple of hundred American soldiers were being held in a German P.O.W. camp, and one day the Nazi commandant ordered the prisoners out of their barracks and then strode up to their commanding officer, and said,

"I want you to identify all your Jewish-American soldiers in your command, and have them step forward, please."

To which the colonel responded,

"Sir, I cannot and will not do this."

With this, the commandant grew angry, and shouted,

"Either you do it, or I will shoot you dead on the spot." (And he took out his Luger revolver).

Unfazed, the Colonel looked the German commandant dead in the eyes, and exclaimed,

"Go ahead and shoot me, Sir. However, the war is almost over, and I guarantee you that 199 men in my command will not forget what you have done, and you will be reported and hunted down as a war criminal."

With this the commandant put the revolver back in its holster and angrily strode away.

This brave American officer saved a large number of American Jewish soldiers from almost certain death that day.

***A particular American Jewish nurse was working in an Army field hospital somewhere in Europe during WWII; along with other American nurses. It seems they got into a discussion about Hitler's vengeance on the Jews, and his having put many to death in concentration camps. Well, some of the other nurses displayed a bit of racism when one or the other among them said,

"I guess Hitler will get rid of all the Jews in Europe." (As if it was almost desirable).

Not knowing that one of their number was a Jew, this particular nurse responded with,

"Well, he didn't get rid of me!"

She said the room got real quiet, the other nurses began shuffling papers and looking for things in their desk drawers. And no more was said about it.

***As WWII concluded and the United States and the other allied powers occupied Germany, a group of American Jewish soldiers decided to 'desecrate' the great stadium at Nuremburg; the place where Adolf Hitler had held large rallies and military parades, and had shared his long and hate-ridden tirades with the crowds.

As a result, the Jewish troops climbed up the concrete steps which lead to the podium, and conducted a Jewish religious service. Later, explosive charges were placed beneath the great iron Nazi swastika mounted above the podium, and this symbol of hatred was summarily blown to smithereens.

***As WWII ended, General Eisenhower was driven into one of the Nazi death camps. Having been exposed to the awful carnage there, the sights and the stench of thousands of dead Jews, he issued an order.

"Some of our men claim they don't know what they are fighting for. I want each and every one of them to visit one of the Nazi death camps. At least they will know what they have been fighting against!"

(Paraphrased by William McDonald, PhD from the Ken Burns television documentary, "G.I. Jews")