One of my most vivid memories from a trip to Munich is visiting Dachau, witnessing the darkness. That exclusion and execution must not happen again. God help us all during these times.
I walked Dachau. I have met a handful of survivors. My friend and I had a conversation this afternoon about how long it took Eisenhower to act on intelligence he got from Winston Churchill. From the history books I read many years ago the U.S. slow walked freeing the people in these camps. Either the Generals that surrounded Eisenhower or Eisenhower himself could have gone in much faster. As a result the ensuing starvation killed many more. Man’s inhumanity to man. I’ve never heard what his reasoning was. If anyone knows I would like to know. This crazy world we live in. Thank you for posting this story.
Thank you, Corinne, for sharing your reflections and raising a very thoughtful question. I can only imagine how powerful and meaningful it must have been to walk the grounds of Dachau.
You mentioned the timing of the liberation efforts and whether General Eisenhower could have acted sooner. This is a significant question and underscores the complex nature of wartime decisions. It's true that the Allies, including the United States, were aware of the atrocities happening in the concentration camps, thanks largely to intelligence reports and reconnaissance. However, the full scope of the Holocaust was not entirely understood until much later in the war.
Upon liberation of Dachau specifically, Eisenhower made efforts to ensure that the horrors were documented and exposed to the world, aiming to prevent any denial of the atrocities committed.
The primary goal of Allied military strategy, however, was the defeat of Germany and the Axis powers. Eisenhower, as the Supreme Commander, was tasked with making decisions that would most swiftly and effectively lead to the end of the war. This strategic focus often meant that liberating specific camps earlier wasn't feasible without jeopardizing broader military objectives.
The suggestion that Eisenhower or other generals could have acted faster to liberate the camps presupposes that such actions were logistically feasible. The movement of military forces is constrained by numerous factors including supply lines, terrain, enemy resistance, and the need to prioritize resources and manpower for decisive battles.
While it's heartbreakingly true that many lives were lost before the camps could be liberated, the complexities of wartime operations and priorities influenced how and when actions were taken. The discussion of what might have been done differently remains an important one, reflecting our collective commitment to remembrance and learning from the past.
I appreciate your deep engagement with this history. It's important to remember these lessons, especially today when some may choose to overlook history for political convenience. Such discussions are vital for our understanding of history and its moral complexities.
I really enjoy your articles. I learn so much! What stands out here is that Russia found a concentration camp and alerted the US. At one time they worked together for good. I've been saying that they've been pushing the narrative, my whole life, that Russia is our enemy, and they really aren't. The movie The Sum Of All Fears points that out. Excellent way to show the power of shining light on darkness!
Our relationship with Russia is certainly long and complicated. But we should always keep in mind that narratives are woven for many different reasons and few of them need truth to spread. Thanks for reading!
This made me think of today's global problem of sex trafficking, and most (including myself) have no idea about the horrific things that go on with that. It happens among us. It's not something we see out in the open like a building/camp as in those days; it happens behind closed doors, so to speak, in our own cities.
Perhaps we will one day throw open those doors like they did at Dachau and expose the horror in a way that no one can deny. Maybe then the world will start to take the issue more seriously.
Thanks for posting this. It should be required reading for today's spoiled college students. Restacked.
Thank you. I couldn't agree more.
One of my most vivid memories from a trip to Munich is visiting Dachau, witnessing the darkness. That exclusion and execution must not happen again. God help us all during these times.
I never thought we'd live in a time when people could forget.
I walked Dachau. I have met a handful of survivors. My friend and I had a conversation this afternoon about how long it took Eisenhower to act on intelligence he got from Winston Churchill. From the history books I read many years ago the U.S. slow walked freeing the people in these camps. Either the Generals that surrounded Eisenhower or Eisenhower himself could have gone in much faster. As a result the ensuing starvation killed many more. Man’s inhumanity to man. I’ve never heard what his reasoning was. If anyone knows I would like to know. This crazy world we live in. Thank you for posting this story.
Thank you, Corinne, for sharing your reflections and raising a very thoughtful question. I can only imagine how powerful and meaningful it must have been to walk the grounds of Dachau.
You mentioned the timing of the liberation efforts and whether General Eisenhower could have acted sooner. This is a significant question and underscores the complex nature of wartime decisions. It's true that the Allies, including the United States, were aware of the atrocities happening in the concentration camps, thanks largely to intelligence reports and reconnaissance. However, the full scope of the Holocaust was not entirely understood until much later in the war.
Upon liberation of Dachau specifically, Eisenhower made efforts to ensure that the horrors were documented and exposed to the world, aiming to prevent any denial of the atrocities committed.
The primary goal of Allied military strategy, however, was the defeat of Germany and the Axis powers. Eisenhower, as the Supreme Commander, was tasked with making decisions that would most swiftly and effectively lead to the end of the war. This strategic focus often meant that liberating specific camps earlier wasn't feasible without jeopardizing broader military objectives.
The suggestion that Eisenhower or other generals could have acted faster to liberate the camps presupposes that such actions were logistically feasible. The movement of military forces is constrained by numerous factors including supply lines, terrain, enemy resistance, and the need to prioritize resources and manpower for decisive battles.
While it's heartbreakingly true that many lives were lost before the camps could be liberated, the complexities of wartime operations and priorities influenced how and when actions were taken. The discussion of what might have been done differently remains an important one, reflecting our collective commitment to remembrance and learning from the past.
I appreciate your deep engagement with this history. It's important to remember these lessons, especially today when some may choose to overlook history for political convenience. Such discussions are vital for our understanding of history and its moral complexities.
Excellent column. Thank you. I'm afraid it's about to happen again. Stay vigilant!
I really enjoy your articles. I learn so much! What stands out here is that Russia found a concentration camp and alerted the US. At one time they worked together for good. I've been saying that they've been pushing the narrative, my whole life, that Russia is our enemy, and they really aren't. The movie The Sum Of All Fears points that out. Excellent way to show the power of shining light on darkness!
Our relationship with Russia is certainly long and complicated. But we should always keep in mind that narratives are woven for many different reasons and few of them need truth to spread. Thanks for reading!
That past historical fact should never blind Christians about what is currently happening.
This made me think of today's global problem of sex trafficking, and most (including myself) have no idea about the horrific things that go on with that. It happens among us. It's not something we see out in the open like a building/camp as in those days; it happens behind closed doors, so to speak, in our own cities.
Perhaps we will one day throw open those doors like they did at Dachau and expose the horror in a way that no one can deny. Maybe then the world will start to take the issue more seriously.
And now some people who lost their way want to revive it https://willspencerpod.substack.com/p/why-are-young-christian-men-trying?utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true