Posted 12 years ago
jlennongrrl
(173 items)
I found these in a container at the local antique store. I collect as much old currency as I can find, and these have been the only Nazi currency I've been able to locate. And truthfully, I don't foresee me spending money on Nazi stuff ever again. Dated 1941 and 1942
It's hard to love or like anything from that period.
I agree, walksoftly, but it's history. My Grandpa Bill was in the Big Red One during WWII. I want to learn everything about what he saw and what he fought against. In that way I'm a lot like Grandpa. He almost got court martialed for reading Mein Kampfh during WWII. Lol trouble maker.
My Uncle was murdered by the SS on the 8th of June, 1944, 2 days after D-Day.
Wow, that is horrible. I had a cousin of some sort that had the same thing happen to him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning their actions by having a coin from that era. I just believe that it's history, no matter how horrible. My grandfather told some pretty horrible stories about some of the things he saw in WWII. Hard to believe that stuff like that happened.
History it is & I have no problem with you showing the coins, after all they did nothing wrong.
Thank you both for responding. I know as a child, my grandfather sometimes told stories. Being a dumb kid, I never really listened. Now I regret it (I remember some...but not enough. And now he's gone). When I go antiquing, I try to get a few of the WWII items that I see (I can't always afford them). I recently located a photo album of pictures from Germany, taken by a civilian. I sat leafing through the pages and found a picture of what appeared to be the Nazis rounding up Jews. I didn't purchase it that day, but that picture is still haunting me. I wonder if it's previously unseen photos from before the war? I've been contemplating going back and getting that album. I have a friend who speaks German, and I'm going to have her translate it. If it is what I suspect, I'm probably going to donate it to a museum. As you said, we need to make sure everyone remembers what was done. Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
I was thinking about our local museum, if anything. They're a smaller museum, so they need help with items. I agree, I probably should digitally record it and put it on the internet. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, I just know I need to get it before it disappears. It was a haunting picture for sure.
After reading AR8Jasons comment #6, I decided to read up on the SS & their involvement in the Battle of the Bulge. It turns out that the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth), under the command of Colonel Kurt Meyers were involved in both incidents. In both incidences they did not want to be encumbered by captured POW's.
The incidents in the Normandy Campaign involved the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the 27th Armoured Regiment (The Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment) & occurred at the Abbey Ardenne which was the command post of Col. Meyers. Another incident involved the Royal Winnipeg Rifles at the Château d'Audrieu, this is where my Uncle was executed.
"As many as 156 Canadian prisoners of war are believed to have been executed by the 12th SS Panzer Division (the Hitler Youth) in the days and weeks following the D-Day landings. In scattered groups, in various pockets of the Normandy countryside, they were taken aside and shot."
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/feature/normandy/memorials/audrieu
Thank you, jlennongrrl & AR8Jason for you sentiments.
@AR8Jason, what is wrong with the term executed, did you read my link?
I am still confused as to what you define as a murder & what it's difference is to an execution. Do you imply that a murder is worse?
I agree with your statement on the SS
Sorry jlennongrrl for turning your coin posting into a discussion on German War Crimes.
Walksoftly, no need to apologize. I take this as a way to learn, and I post all my items so discussions can get started. Talk freely.
Good to hear, open discussions are a good way to learn. Could you check out that link I posted & see if it works for you?
It worked for me earlier today, but it isnt working now. I'll check again later tonight.
The link is back online. Walksoftly who was your uncle?
My Uncle was Rfn (Private) Kenneth Lawrence also in the list are two good friends the Meakin bros.
@ AR8Jason, I guess it comes down to cultural differences in the use of words. I grew up hearing the stories of my Uncle's execution/murder, as well as the other Canadians that day at the Abbey Ardenne. All the info you have posted I know intimately, I just didn't know if you thought one term was worse than the other.
To me when soldiers are lined up or placed on the ground on their stomachs & the enemy soldiers carry out a command given by their superiors, I call that an execution as does the Canadian Government. You can call it what you like but don't call it "nothing but murder".