‘Never Again’ as cliché as it sounds, the words today are more relevant than ever. One reason why I am such an anti-Nazi dates back to the late 1970’s and a lecture a survivor of the concentration camps gave to us about the abhorrent, inhumane system created by Hitler.  Of late Nazism has acquired a new kind of appeal with new generations who know as much about Hitler as they do a James Dean movie. Nazism, like James Dean has a mythic status, although James does not harm ones health and peace of mind. It’s simple really; from Ukraine to Cyprus fascism is rising. Their scapegoats today are so-called illegal migrants. They advocate the purity of the race with fanaticism without any sense of what notions of racially fuelled societies have done to the world from Hitler and Mussolini to Apartheid in South Africa. In Cyprus they have an office in Makarios Avenue, the main shopping street where most people hang out in pretentious cafes. It’s puzzling how they can afford the rent but their main slogan ‘1 illegal immigrant for every unemployed Cypriot’ is more mythical than anything heard to date.

This Sunday, two days after Christmas,  this group of fanaticized youths, about 80 in total tried to spew their vitriolic thoughts on a society that has paid way too much at the hands of extremists in the last 50 years. Several hundred anti-racist demonstrators turned out to oppose their presence, making it clear that some people at least would not let Nazis walk the streets of Nicosia without resistance.

Its no coincidence, at the other northern end of Europe, in the Ukraine, an almost identical event occurred utilizing the same anti-immigration discourse. Contemporary Ukrainian nouveau goose steppers go one step further than their Cyprus hybrids. They are openly eulogizing Ukrainian nationalists who collaborated with Hitler during the Second World War.

Much of this can be seen as a re-mythologized version of history which also echoes various eager conservative politicians who have tried, rather inaccurately to underestimate the role played by the then Soviet Union in the eastern front against the Nazis. These vain efforts – who could for example ever underestimate the human sacrifice of the battle of Stalingrad – have in some ways provided a comfort zone for contemporary nationalists and Nazi followers to exploit potential followers, fooling them on the past and with anti-immigration misinformation on the present.

Which takes me back to what’s happening in Cyprus and the slogan of a loony fringe group that links people without papers to rising unemployment. The equation recalls the anti-Semitism of Nazi ideology; itself the biggest lie ever told.

People in Cyprus without any status are the most exploited, oppressed group of sufferers – the kind of people sociologists could write countless surveys on poor living conditions, super-exploitation, overcrowding, discrimination and persecution.  How these people can be seen as the cause of unemployment is also mind-boggling as the vast majority of the jobs undertaken by immigrants in Cyprus are jobs at wages that Cypriots would not work. For example, the set wage for domestic workers is 308 Euros per month – several hundred below the average wage.

Finally, the person who spoke for the racist fringe group dabbling in Nazi semiotics today, swastikas included, is from Greece. It has always baffled me how any Greek person, including all the Golden Yawners on planet earth, can in their sane right mind be Nazis. 300,000 Greeks died of starvation under Nazi occupation. In total 700,500 civilians died in Greece during the war plus 35,100 military deaths representing over 1 in 10 of the total population.

With a further 71,300 Holocaust deaths  total losses reached 806,900 equivalent to 11.17% of the population of Greece. How any one can claim then to be Greek and proud and a Nazi is so oxymoronic that it is  beyond any reasonable level of human decency.

Nazism is unwanted in Cyprus. It contradicts our past, present and future and Cypriots, like all human beings the world over, should never allow it to rise again.

Grandpa Tom.

He isn’t a character. He is a stand-up kind of guy. You know; for those of you who are not from America, that means that he is reliable, takes initiative when he needs to, doesn’t speak out of turn, but will tell you what he thinks if he thinks it will help.

He was a teacher for most of his life. In work and out. And he makes me laugh. He is also a bit of a trickster, or at least has a fast tongue. He is shuffling about upstairs now. And getting in to bed, slowly, with patience like only a wise man can.

Last night he sat and just talked about some of his memories to us. Therapeutic like. For us more than for him I think, though I am sure he enjoyed it. There is a lot of wisdom there, but some tom-foolery too. (His name is Tom, so I guess its fitting). Anyway, he was telling us about how he was selected to become an officer for the Navy during the second world war. He had just proposed to my grandmother (she said at the time she was not ready… and quite right too. Tom was 18 and she a bit younger!) and so Grandpa, who was studying to be a teacher at some university between Cornwall (grandpa is Cornish!) and England, signed up for training.

He said last night that it was not because of my grandmothers pause for thought that he joined up, but because he would have done it anyway… I trust he would have. He said to us that he was teething to go to war, though at other times he has talked about the meaninglessness of it all. He is still sore about the Japanese, though he has forgiven them. Most of his squadron (he trained to be a pilot in the Navy) died over on the other side of the world. But he tells anecdotes about officers from Germany and the UK meeting after the war, remembering, shaking hands, having a drink and perhaps forgiving each other.

So he was in front of this panel. There were Officers from the Navy interviewing new recruits from the college where he was being trained to become a teacher. I imagine some stark, not so well lit room with some wooden paneling on the wall. A long “high table”, behind it some men in uniform, and in front an 18 year old; my grandfather… an 18 year old Grandfather with all the confidence an 18 year can have (an I am sure he had less than my grandfather has now) and the 18 year old, who is not yet married, much less a father or grandfather sitting there answering what my grandpa last night called: “silly questions”.

My granny and grandpa had met some time before on a bit of a blind date. She was a cousin of Tom’s friend, who wanted to take another girl out but needed Tom to take care of his cousin for the evening. Grandpa called it a blind date, but I am sure he didn’t have a bag over his head. Well, he knew a chap who had a rowing boat and so he took Margaret out on a boat ride to the edge of a farm that  was on the river. The farm had an apple orchard. So being the adventuring types Tom and Margaret (Granny) went and picked some apples. They where chased away from the field by the farmer and have still not been caught.

I am sure they chuckled at the excitement, laughed their way home and enjoyed the taken apples.

When Grandpa was sitting before the panel they asked him some questions to see what he was about. Grandpa later found out that one of his tutors talked to the officers interviewing him about deferral, as the tutor wanted Tom to finish his teacher training course. Well this 18 year old Grandpa, who sat before the panel, wanted to go and he went, but before he could  he was asked a silly question: “What would you do if you were in a playground and you saw a U-boat?”

Last night Grandpa told us that sometimes lucky lines come to his head and that he is happy when they do. Well the 18 year old Naval-officer-to-be answered like a bullet out of a gun muzzle: ” I would torpedo it sir!”

To which the Naval Officer retorted: “But where would you get the Torpedo?”

“Well”, Grandpa said, “the same place you got the U-boat!”

Grandpa was accepted for naval training.

 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 Before the Second World War, England had military establishment in all Commonwealth countries. America did not face any threat from the old world, as it was very far away; still, they had a naval force capable of reaching any point in the world, in the shortest time.

After the war, England became pauper and was forced to give freedom for her colonies. America became the Super Power.

NOW

 Now they do not face any threat from any quarter. Why do they retain the huge naval force, spread over the whole seas?

 In 1945 itself, the UN committee on disarmament came into existence. They were allowed to sleep in AC rooms. 

 There is no need for any country to have their naval ships in the High Seas. Even if the war ships are withdrawn into the territorial waters of the respective countries, they can defend the nation.

 So we should take up disarmament in real earnest. The first step should be demilitarization of the High Seas. Only merchant ships should be allowed to sail there. Satellites can spot any violation of the agreement.

The Great or St-Laurens Church, popularly called simply the Church of Laurens or Laurens, is traditionally the “cathedral” of Rotterdam. (the real cathedral is located on the Mathenesserlaan) Built between approximately 1449 and 1525, the Laurens Church is the only remaining building from the late Gothic medieval origin of Rotterdam.

To many, the Laurens Church symbolizes Rotterdam’s history. One could buy his Citizenship in the medieval city of Rotterdam by buying 3000 bricks to help build the tower. The images of the devastated and charred church in the Second World War and its subsequent reconstruction were the symbol for resurrection of the city. Even now the Laurens Church remains an imposing presence in the midst of all architectural buildings in the contemporary “Manhattan aan de Maas“.

Tour/Opening hours

A visit to the Great or St. Lawrence Church is in many ways a walk through ancient times. Both church, art and music history can be experienced in the rich times of yore of this monument.

Tuesday
10.00 – 14.00
Wednesday to Saturday
14.00 – 16.00

Cost per person € 2.50 / € 2.00 per person in groups. Rates 2010: € 3.50 pp / € 3 per person in groups.

From June 1, 2009 to October 2010 climbing the tower of the Laurens is not possible due to restoration.

For more information, please check http://www.laurenskerkrotterdam.nl

„Hanukkah was approaching. The spiritual leaders of the house, rabbis and teachers, tried to make an evening or two become holiday in spite of the hard situation. Though the mood was depressed, bombs fluttered around the Vadász utca, it was dangerous enough to make a stay in the assembly room upstairs, many were curious about the evening holiday. The holiday was introduced by the traditional candles lightning, then doctor Richtmann’s sermon came.

The audience in the assembly room listened to his words fighting against their tears and soundlessly. You might see the piety of the festive hour what they didn’t feel a long time ago. Then Teri Gács, the excellent poetess came. Or rather she would have come, but, even then, when she wanted to begin reciting one of her ad hoc poems – The List 7800 –, a bomb fell to the firewall of the next house with great noise. The Glass House trembled, a huge amount of plaster streamed from the ceiling to the necks of the audience.

I wasn’t at home, I came back late at night from the Szabadság square. Some good friends led by Arthur Weiss waited for me in the small room. In the corner some nutshells, oil and wicks in each, were lined up on a stick which was put on a chair. One by one I lit the small oil lamps. I will never forget that holiday feeling what descended upon us, and I will even less forget the dinner what my wife made on this occasion. She took out some potato lángos from the pot under the table which I didn’t know how she had fried, and, especially, from what she had fried. Especially as that there wasn’t any potato in the Glass House since months. There was a little fat on the cold lángos. I never eat so delicious potato lángos since then.”

(from the book of Mihály Salamon: “Keresztény” voltam Európában. [I was a "Christian" in Europe])

Here are some pics of what I have managed to complete this year. 9 builds in total which is records for me in recent years. A good mix of builds too; aircraft, armour and of course figures. I managed to fulfil a new years resolution by completing an aircraft, well actually 3. It is unlikely that I will finish anything more before the end of the year.

A 200mm bust of a Grendier of the French Imperial Guard by EVD.

1/48 KV-1. This is one of the Hobby Boss kits.

A 1:10 scale bust of Spahi Private of the Vichy French Army, Syria, 1941. Sculpted by the late Roy Hunt and produced by El Greco Miniatures.

1/72 Hawker Hurricane MkIIc. This is the old Academy kit.

1/72 Sherman MkVc ‘Firefly’. This is the very good Dragon kit.

28mm Lawrence of Arabia

54mm RFC Pilot, 1917

1/72 Hawker Sea Fury FBII. This is the Trumpter kit. Generally a very good kit. A few issues but nothing that can not be sorted.

1/72 Supermarine Spitfire MkI.

Gaze: Tiger Woods is a mirror.

In occupied France, German soldiers were ordinary.

A global currency transaction tax is possible.

The private sector doesn’t always make things happen.

High culture is a pageant of creative bankruptcy.

Christmas is coming and, as well as trying to decide what books to buy for the book lovers in my life, it’s time for me to look back over the past 12 months and tell you about the highlights of my reading year.

One of the titles that stands out from the early part of the year is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Burrows [Bloomsbury £10.99 9781408800485 ]. I have to admit that it was the title that attracted me to begin with, but I was completely absorbed in this tale, set just after the second world war, of a London author who is looking for inspiration for her new book. She hears about this strangely named society in Guernsey and begins a correspondence with the members of the society to find out more.

Later on, I read The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson [Canongate £7.99 9781847671691] which was on the Richard and Judy list. Whilst in hospital a patient from the psychiatric wing begins to take great interest in a man who has just suffered horrific burns in a car accident. Her name is Marianne Engel and she is a sculptor of grotesque statues and gargoyles. She insists that she has known the burns victim in another life in Europe in the 14th Century and bit by bit she relates the story of her life at that time and how they met. Very graphic in places, but quite compelling.

Another fascinating and un-put-downable novel for me was The Somnambulist [ Gollancz £7.99 9780575082144], by Jonathan Barnes, the story of a Victorian illusionist, Edward Moon. Moon’s chief claim to fame is to be able to thrust several large swords through the body of his accomplice, known only as The Somnambulist, without causing any loss of blood or discomfort as the main attraction of his nightly performances. He is also a bit of a detective “on the side” and is called on to help Scotland Yard with a couple of murder cases which involve a strange religious sect. Very odd, but very good!

As for non-fiction, I was totally hooked by the story of the Fitzwilliam family of Wentworth House in South Yorkshire. It’s called Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey [Penguin £8.99 9780141019239]. The book chronicles the decline and fall of the Fitzwilliams and is set in the largest privately owned house in Britain, which is nowadays a crumbling and forgotten palace.  There’s a lengthy review of the book in The Times Online Property section – of all places

As regular readers of this blog will know, I’m quite fond of “TV tie-ins” and I’d like to mention a couple published in 2009, which I haven’t bought, but wouldn’t say no to.  The Victorians; Britain through the Paintings of the Age [BBC £25 9781846077432] by Jeremy Paxman is a good read as well as being lavishly illustrated, to use a well worn phrase (but this time I think it’s justified).  The second is one not previously mentioned in the blog, and that’s Life [ BBC Books £25 978-1846076428] by Martha Holmes and Michael Gunton: the TV series is excellent (the last instalment to be screened on Monday Dec 14^th)and so is the book.

Now for local history and local authors: Jonathan Foster’s book about the mysterious life of scientist and inventor Harry Grindell Matthews The Death Ray [Inventive Publishing £11.99 9780956134806] is a really good read- essential for anyone interested in the history of science. Janet Roberts’ book Oil under Sherwood Forest [£4.99 Janet Roberts Booklets  9780956190208] is a fascinating account of the American “invasion “ of Nottinghamshire when extra help was needed during the second world war to sink the oilwells around Eakring.

The new book on Hardwick Hall, Hardwick ,A Great House and its Estate, by Philip Riden and Dudley Fowkes [Phillimore, £14.99 9781860775444] was only recently published in the “England’s Past for Everyone” series. I have looked for it in the shops, but it doesn’t seem to have filtered  through yet, so I’ll hopefully report on that in the near future.

In brief: other titles which made an impression on me during the year were A Lifetime in the Building [Aurum £16.99 9781845133962] by Christine Adams, the story of how May Savidge literally moved her house from Hertfordshire to Norfolk;  Deliverance by L A G Strong [now out of print] is a forgotten gem from the past. It’s set in the West Country and is about an orphan set loose from the orphanage to find his own way in the world; and finally Devil in Amber [Pocket Books £7.99 9780743483803] by Mark Gatiss a gripping surreal novel with a touch of humour about the unlikely named Lucifer Box who tries to stop someone with an equally improbable name – Olympus Mons – from taking over the world.

There’ll be another posting before Christmas.