The ruins of my grandparents' home in Mijdrecht (NL), burned down by the Germans in 1944 in reprisal for local resistance activities. My grandfather barely escaped with his life. My father carried the trauma of that event in him the rest of his life. - ThreadSky

christinekooi.bsky.social • 2 days ago

The ruins of my grandparents' home in Mijdrecht (NL), burned down by the Germans in 1944 in reprisal for local resistance activities. My grandfather barely escaped with his life. My father carried the trauma of that event in him the rest of his life.

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christinekooi.bsky.social•2 days ago

The house when it was built in 1932. That's my dad and his sister in the foreground.

christinekooi.bsky.social•2 days ago

After the war they were compensated by the Dutch government with some furniture confiscated from a Dutch Nazi collaborator in Rotterdam. Among the items was a beautiful 1930s walnut secretary. That secretary now stands in my dining room.

christinekooi.bsky.social•2 days ago

Growing up, I always associated the woody, nutty smell of this piece when its drawers opened up with my grandparents' home, a safe and loving space. But it was also once owned by a damned Nazi. Such are the contradictions we hold in this life.

bartwallet.bsky.social•2 days ago

What a story! Thanks for sharing.

robcos023.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thank you for sharing this. About 10 years ago I started immersing myself in First and Second WW history as my elementary teaching was, well, elementary.😬 I’ve been profoundly impacted by what I’ve learned-including stories like yours. 1/2

robcos023.bsky.social•2 days ago

You relating that story honors his grief as well as your grandparents-and anyone who fought during and afterwards. The act of remembering continues. I only wish that was the case in my own “backyard” right now. Sadly, more than one generation has forgotten or doesn’t know what they don’t know. ❤️

christinekooi.bsky.social•2 days ago

Thanks for the kind words. I always tell my students, in the end the only that is left of us is stories. They have great power.

renzelen.bsky.social•2 days ago

My grandparents has all their properties confiscated. My grandfather was part of an aristocratic military family - he was sent to Katyn. Meanwhile grandma was sent to the Siberian Gulag with 3 tiny children by Stalin.

ladyevenstarbpe.bsky.social•2 days ago

🫶

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