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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/27/jewish-nazi-holocaust-memorial-day-murdered-buchenwald-hitler-youth
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| My family is Jewish. My penpal’s has a Nazi past. Such is friendship | My family is Jewish. My penpal’s has a Nazi past. Such is friendship |
| (25 days later) | |
| I was born in Berlin, in the British military hospital next door to Spandau prison. My parents were refugees from Nazi Germany who came to England as children, and I was only born in Germany because my father, an actor, was then working with Bertolt Brecht’s theatre company. I was aware of my background from as early as I can remember. My grandfather, Werner Scholem, was a communist, a member of the Reichstag, and a Jew. He was murdered in Buchenwald. | I was born in Berlin, in the British military hospital next door to Spandau prison. My parents were refugees from Nazi Germany who came to England as children, and I was only born in Germany because my father, an actor, was then working with Bertolt Brecht’s theatre company. I was aware of my background from as early as I can remember. My grandfather, Werner Scholem, was a communist, a member of the Reichstag, and a Jew. He was murdered in Buchenwald. |
| As a child, growing up in England with a British passport, I felt neither fully German nor fully English. I was confused when kids in my primary school, on finding out where I’d been born, pretended to shoot me, shrieking, “Nazi! Nazi!” | As a child, growing up in England with a British passport, I felt neither fully German nor fully English. I was confused when kids in my primary school, on finding out where I’d been born, pretended to shoot me, shrieking, “Nazi! Nazi!” |
| After my grandmother died, when I no longer had any relatives in Germany, I asked my mother to find me a German pen friend. Ironically it was my Israeli Jewish “godmother” who came up with a girl of my age. | After my grandmother died, when I no longer had any relatives in Germany, I asked my mother to find me a German pen friend. Ironically it was my Israeli Jewish “godmother” who came up with a girl of my age. |
| Vicky and I began writing to each other. Her English was better than my German, so we wrote in English. A couple of years into our correspondence, I received an invitation to visit Vicky in Munich. | Vicky and I began writing to each other. Her English was better than my German, so we wrote in English. A couple of years into our correspondence, I received an invitation to visit Vicky in Munich. |
| “How lovely,” my mother replied. “What’s her full name?” | “How lovely,” my mother replied. “What’s her full name?” |
| When I said “Viktoria von Schirach” my mother went white, and appeared to fold in on herself. It turned out that Vicky’s grandfather, Baldur von Schirach, had been leader of the Hitler Youth. | When I said “Viktoria von Schirach” my mother went white, and appeared to fold in on herself. It turned out that Vicky’s grandfather, Baldur von Schirach, had been leader of the Hitler Youth. |
| I was devastated at the thought that I might never meet my pen friend. Serious conversations took place. Eventually, due in part to our stubborn refusal to see our friendship terminated, it was agreed that our families should meet. | I was devastated at the thought that I might never meet my pen friend. Serious conversations took place. Eventually, due in part to our stubborn refusal to see our friendship terminated, it was agreed that our families should meet. |
| I can’t remember where the meeting took place, but I do remember how odd it was – Vicky and I looking each other over shyly as our parents had sombre discussions. I went to stay when I was 15 and we had a wonderful time, hanging out in cafes and riding around on her Vespa. | I can’t remember where the meeting took place, but I do remember how odd it was – Vicky and I looking each other over shyly as our parents had sombre discussions. I went to stay when I was 15 and we had a wonderful time, hanging out in cafes and riding around on her Vespa. |
| We took a sauna together one day, and I don’t know if it was the intimacy of sitting together wearing nothing but towels, but we finally acknowledged our grandfathers. It was a brief, awkward conversation. | We took a sauna together one day, and I don’t know if it was the intimacy of sitting together wearing nothing but towels, but we finally acknowledged our grandfathers. It was a brief, awkward conversation. |
| Politicians and public events often dictate how we interact with each other, but everyone has a choice | Politicians and public events often dictate how we interact with each other, but everyone has a choice |
| We’re still in touch. Vicky has had a tough time reconciling herself with her family’s past. A couple of years ago she visited Auschwitz and was profoundly affected by it. | We’re still in touch. Vicky has had a tough time reconciling herself with her family’s past. A couple of years ago she visited Auschwitz and was profoundly affected by it. |
| Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. This year the official theme is the power of words – it is one that resonates strongly with me. My own experience shows how powerful words, including those written by children, can be. | Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. This year the official theme is the power of words – it is one that resonates strongly with me. My own experience shows how powerful words, including those written by children, can be. |
| Politicians and public events often dictate how we interact with each other, but everyone has a choice. Even after a year that saw the disheartening resurgence of prejudices and hatreds, we can choose to see each other through fresh eyes. | Politicians and public events often dictate how we interact with each other, but everyone has a choice. Even after a year that saw the disheartening resurgence of prejudices and hatreds, we can choose to see each other through fresh eyes. |
| • Leonie Mellinger is an actor and communication skills coach | • Leonie Mellinger is an actor and communication skills coach |
| Holocaust | Holocaust |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Second world war | Second world war |
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