Free Republic University, Department of History presents
World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment:
New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword realtime Or view
Homers posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homers profile. Also visit our
general discussion thread
To: Homer_J_Simpson
2 posted on
06/19/2012 4:12:30 AM PDT by
Homer_J_Simpson
("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
To: Homer_J_Simpson
June 19, 1942:
- "Summer 1942: The Third Reich achieves its high point of conquest and territory.
- " Summer 1942: Three-year-old Jewish twins in Sosnowiec, Poland, Ida and Adam Paluch, are spirited away from Gestapo agents by their aunt and sent to live with separate Catholic families; See 1995."
"Although Spain's head of state, General Francisco Franco, sympathized with the Axis powers, his political policies saved an estimated 17,000 Jews from death camps.
Franco refused to enter the war.
Instead, he declared Spain a "nonbelligerent," and during the latter half of the war changed the country's status to "neutral." "Franco frustrated the SS by declaring descendants of Sephardic Jews eligible for Spanish citizenship, and thus entitled to asylum in Spanish embassies.
Spain consequently became a main avenue of escape for Europe's Jews.
Some hoped to find asylum within the country, but most intended to embark from Spanish ports for sanctuary overseas.
"The fall of France in 1940 unleashed a flood of refugees seeking entry into Spain.
Initially, the Spanish government willingly granted transit visas, but then authorities became more hesitant to open frontiers.
Still, many refugees slipped across the northern border illegally, trekking over hazardous mountain routes.
By the summer of 1942, Jewish aid organizations helped an estimated 7500 pass through Spain to continue their journeys.
"Spanish authorities worked to discourage refugees from remaining in the country, and established internment camps for those who did.
When border crossings increased again in 1943, refugees were permitted to live in Spanish cities."
9 posted on
06/19/2012 6:29:30 AM PDT by
BroJoeK
(a little historical perspective....)
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