It's clear to me that neither granny nor grandpa nor mom nor dad (while mom was alive) wanted to dredge up the painful memories of separation and loss that the war inflicted on all of them. I find it hard going to hold and contemplate these wartime letters written by auntie Elisa, (who was sent to Aushwitz) and Granny Regine (who was sent to Treblinka) in my hands. It's hard to read the letters granny carefully treasured and kept in a red wallet from Grandpa - where he repeats over and over again, Mien Liebling this and Mein Leibling that, referring constantly to Babylein. It's difficult in practical terms too, because I don't speak German. But they have to be read. I am a member of the first generation that has enough distance from these traumatising events and experiences, I hope, to be able to look the bad stuff right in its damn face. I forget that this was everyone's trauma and still is. 6 million Jewish people died. That makes an awful lot of bereaved relativ...
Left wing commentary from the heart and the head