Martyrdom and Resistance, May/June 1985

ID Transcript mare1105_01 "mm mmm jjsiaw I MARTYRDOM RESISTANCE Newsletter for the American Federation of Jewish Fighters, Camp Inmates, and Nazi Victim*, Inc. Vol. 11 - No. 5 May-June 1985 — lyyar-Sivan 5745 Fortieth Anniversary of Allied Victory: Tributes to Jewish Heroism: Gatherings Held in Israel Follow Worldwide Attention Given to the Yom Hashoa Observances FEDERATIONS OF SURVIVORS AMONG SPONSORS For forty years the world has become accustomed to mourn the Six Million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Little attention has been paid to the resistance component of the Holocaust, except perhaps as a means of nervous ''self-defense"" in refuting the ""sheep-to-the-slaughter"" cries. However, forty years later there is a pronounced accent on resistance — courage and heroism — of those who battled the Nazis. Nowhere was this sharper than at the recently concluded Israeli gatherings: World Congress of the World Federation of Jewish Fighters, Partisans, and Camp Inmates, May 1-May 5, and the World Assembly to Commemorate 40 Years Since the Defeat of Nazi Germany and its Satellites, May 5-9. The Congress of the World Federation of Jewish Fighters marked its third International Gathering of delegates by reflecting on the Jewish participation of the defeat of Germany and its satellites. The World Assembly program opened a day after President Reagan's visit to Bitburg with ceremonies at the dedication of the Monument to Jewish Fighters, at Yad Vashem. Speakers stressed remembrance, with no reconciliation with the Nazis, and pledged that there will never be another Holocaust. The monument honors the 1.5 million Jews who fought the Nazis as soldiers in the Allied armies and as partisans. It was erected under the joint auspices of all survivor organizations in the U.S., cochaired by Frank Blaichman, Sam Skura, and Miles Lerman. Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin, together with Jack Pomerance and Sam Skura, both survivors, from the U.S., cut the blue and white ribbon at the dedication and vowed that there would never be any reconciliation with the Nazis and their supporters. After the speeches, Rabin read the builders' scroll of the monument and pinned the anti-Nazi fighters medal on the national flag and presented it to Yad Vashem. Rabin then placed a wreath at the foot of the monument. Seven other wreaths were laid by other organizations, including representatives of different armies, partisans, and ghetto fighters. A flame for the Unknown Jewish Fighter was lit. The monument was designed by sculptor Bernie Fink, whose work was chosen over 90 other entries. The fighting qualities of the Jews is represented by the sword blade and the Jewish people by the Star of David, created by the edges of six blocks of granite, representing the six million Jewish victims. YAD VASHEM SUPPLEMENT As a service to its readers, Martyrdom and Resistance is pleased to enclose a 12-page supplement of the International Society for Yad Vashem, published by the Jerusalem Post. Described are recent events in Israel held in connection with the 40th anniversary of the Allied victory over the Nazis. ""The monument will symbolize to our coming generation that we fought at Stalingrad, Warsaw, in Burma, and in the North African desert,"" according to Dr. Yitzhak Arad, chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate. ""I personally fought with the partisans in Lithuania and this monument is part of a debt I owe to my fallen comrades."" Continuing the theme of heroism verses martyrdom, Yad Vashem Council Chairman Gidon Hausner said of the monument site: ""This is the place where symbols speak, not only symbols of martyrdom, but also of fighting."" The foundations of Israel were also built on the (Continued on Page 8) International Network Hunting for Mengele In what has been described as the greatest international manhunt since World War II, the United States, West Germany, and Israel announced a coordinated effort to track down and bring to justice the Angel of Auschwitz, Dr. Josef Mengele. After meeting in Frankfurt, law inforcement officials of the three countries ""resolved to open direct lines of communication at the prosecutorial and investigative levels"" for the purpose of bringing Mengele to trial for ""crimes against humanity."" With a price of nearly $4 million on his head, Mengele is the world's most wanted fugitive. He was the camp doctor notorious for his medical experimentation and the power of selection for gassing. Investigators and other experts believe that Mengele, now 74, is in hiding in his long-time haven of Paraguay. CELEBRATIONS, CONTROVERSY Yom Hashoa, 27 Nissan 5745, April 18, 1985: to say that observances were held in record numbers is indeed true, but does not tell the magnitude of this year's activities. The 40th anniversary of the liberation, followed by the storm created by President Reagan's visit to the Bitburg military cemetery, and the gatherings in Israel to mark the 40th year of the defeat of the Allies: all these contributed to new levels of discussion and information about the Holocaust, seen and heard around the globe. Yom Hashoa 1985 marked the 33rd year since the Israeli Knesset established 27 Nissan as an annual day of observance for the remembrance of all the Jewish martyrs of the European catastrophe and for tribute to the heroes of the Holocaust. As in the past years, the American Federation of Jewish Fighters, Camp Inmates, and Nazi Victims serviced individuals and groups throughout the country with exhibits of ""Holocaust and Resistance,"" with other materials, and with, speakers. For the 14th consecutive year, the Federation (Continued on Page 6) HOLD THIS DATE! Date: Sunday, September 8, 1985 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Waldorf Astoria Starlight Roof The International Society of Yad Vashem will launch its campaign for the Valley of the Destroyed Communities at a gala dinner and awards presentation. Abba Eban, chairman of Yad Vashem's Board of Governors, will deliver the principal address. For more information, write to: International Society of Yad Vashem 505 Fifth Avenue — 12th Floor New York, NY 10017 or call: 212-697-5670 „.£«T. J&.fa, At Monument to Jewish Fighters at Yad Vashem. (1.) Sam Skura, survivor, co-chairman, Monument Committee, and Jack Pomerance, co-chairman, a former partisan. (Other photos, stories are in the ""supplement."") "