There were those who risked their lives to bring the dark secrets of Am Steinhof to the world. Anyone caught taking a photograph of a suspicious column of smoke would face interrogation and torture by the Gestapo and certain death. Many clergymen, like the Bishop of Münster, refused to be silenced. His outspoken words were printed and distributed from the air by the Royal Air Force. Hundreds of courageous Austrian priests who spoke out against Nazi atrocities, or who were members of secret resistance groups, were murdered by the Nazis.
School teachers were drafted into the Nazi military machine, and were replaced in schools by Nazi instructors sometimes known as brown sisters. Young children were brainwashed by these Reich-appointed educators. Older children were instructed to eavesdrop on their parents and report overheard conversations to their new teachers. They were also made to write poems in praise of Adolf Hitler for their homework assignments.
One of the 800 children who perished at Am Steinhof was a member of Adolf Hitler's family. Insane.
Insane indeed Gwilym - and it does us good to remember such things on today of all days = not that we should ever forget.
ReplyDeleteGwilym...I reread the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer from time to time to remind myself of the fight that also went on in Germany in the 30s and 40s. wonderful words.
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