Republican presidential candidate and NJ governor Christie said jailed Kentucky clerk Kim Davis should just have been transferred to another job.
Christie statement suggests he oblivious to the fact that she's not a public employee but the elected clerk. She can't be transferred to another position.
But being an "honest straight talker" means never to having to check that your opinions are based in reality before opening your mouth.
Just as Walker's string of incredibly stupid statements has done nothing to halt his declining poll numbers and may be among the reasons his candidacy fails, I expect this will do nothing to stop the fall in Christie's already low poll numbers which are already scraping the bottom or increase donations to his campaign.
For some reason right now Trump can get away with making nonsense statements not based in reality. Christie and Walker are not Trump and cannot.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Rommel's image in popular culture
70 years ago on October 14, 1944 the Nazis forced Field Marshall Erwin Rommel to commit suicide.
In popular culture in the U.S. Rommel has a positive image.
Among the reasons are:
1933 to 1944
From the Nazis rise to power in 1933 until 1944 Rommel did nothing to oppose Nazism or to stop the Holocaust.
During those 11 years Rommel enjoyed the benefits of Nazi rule.
He failed to act in 1938 or 1939 when the Nazis were more vulnerable and would have been much easier to overthrow than in July, 1944.
For five years from 1939 until 1944, Rommel implemented the Nazi ideology of aggressive wars. Among the conquered populations were the majority of the victims of the Holocaust.
In 1939 among the earliest victims of the Holocaust were Polish Jewish officers and enlisted personnel executed when captured by Germans.
During the Polish campaign Rommel was commander of Hitler’s bodyguards (the Führer escort headquarters) as Hitler toured the Polish front.
From that position Rommel had to have been aware of the murder of Polish Jewish POWs.
During the 1940 Battle of France, troops under Rommel’s command motivated by the Nazi's racial ideology executed captured French Senegalese troops.
1940: Senegalese soldiers preparing to defend France against the Nazis.
Public domain image from Tales of War, page 239.
1944: French children with their Senegalese liberator.
Public domain image from Amére patrie, devoir de mémoire et de vérité
Carving on the gate of the French military cemetery in Chasselay with Senegalese soldiers massacred by Nazi troops including some under Rommel’s command.
The cemetery is designed in the traditional Senegalese burial grounds.
Fair use of image from by Petra Pulles at Tata Chasselay France – A WW2 Cemetery on French soil for massacred Senegalese troops
From 1941 to 1943 in North Africa Rommel reportedly refused to implement Nazi orders to execute Jewish and other categories of POWs. Many Jewish soldiers were serving in the British and Polish forces in North Africa.
That is further confirmation of the depth of Rommel’s knowledge of Nazi criminality.
While Rommel may have prohibited the execution of Jewish POWs at the front, no evidence exists that he did anything to stop the Nazis behind the front from rounding up of Sephardic Jews in Nazi occupied parts of North Africa for deportation to slave labor and death camps.
In 1943 when Rommel was given command of Normandy, he used slave labor to construct fortifications.
Stopping the Holocaust or protecting ethnic Germans?
By July, 1944, Rommel recognized that Germany was militarily defeated. Germany no longer had the military capacity to defend its borders.
To continue the war meant that the Soviets would overrun Germany.
Was Rommel’s 1944 dissent motivated by his concern for the potential sufferings of ethnic Germans at the hands of Soviet troops or to stop genocide?
July, 1944 status of the Holocaust
By July, 1944, most of Nazi Holocaust murders had already occurred.
The July 1944 assassination and coup attempts were much too late to save most victims.
Rommel’s role in the attempted coup and assassination
Rommel may not have supported assassination or a coup.
He may have hinted that after others killed Hitler and overthrew the Nazis he would be available to serve in the post-Nazi government and armed forces.
He may have looked the other way while members of his staff planned the coup and assassination. He refrained from alerting the Nazis of the plots to what if anything he knew.
As his troops were being defeated in Normandy he said to his superiors including Hitler that the time had come to negotiate an end to the war.
On July, 17, 1944 Rommel suffered a serious brain injury when British aircraft attacked his car near the Normandy front.
That injury seemed to have decreased his inhibitions on speech.
His comments became less guarded, more frequent, explicit, and strident.
On July 22, 1944, a coup and assassination Hitler were attempted. Both failed.
On October 14, 1944. the Nazis force Rommel to choose between torture, a show trial followed by an execution, and violent retaliation against his family or suicide.
To shield his family from retaliation, Rommel chose to execute himself by committing suicide.
My amateur historian’s assessment of Rommel’s legacy:
From February to July, 1944, the 3110th Signal Service Battalion, my late father Felix A. Cizewski’s unit, and Rommel faced each other across the English Channel (La Manche in French).
Rommel was preparing to continue the Nazi occupation of France and the 3110th was building communications infrastructure to facilitate the supplies to the forces preparing to liberate France.
Links with sources and for more information:
(French) le maréchal erwin rommel se suicide le 14 octobre 1944: Site where I learned of the 1940 massacre of French Senegalese POWs by troops under Rommel’s command.
(French) Le Tata sénégalais
In depth historical background and context: An occasional feature of my family history blog where this was first published.
Shortlink to original on Wordpress: http://wp.me/p2ix3W-BD
Revised: October 18, 2012
In popular culture in the U.S. Rommel has a positive image.
Among the reasons are:
- His competence as a military commander.
- Unlike other German commanders especially on the Eastern Front, his adherence to the international standards of the treatment of POWs in North Africa from 1941 to 1943.
- His association with the plotters of the July, 1944 attempted assassination of Hitler and coup and his statements of dissent about Nazi conduct of the war.
1933 to 1944
From the Nazis rise to power in 1933 until 1944 Rommel did nothing to oppose Nazism or to stop the Holocaust.
During those 11 years Rommel enjoyed the benefits of Nazi rule.
He failed to act in 1938 or 1939 when the Nazis were more vulnerable and would have been much easier to overthrow than in July, 1944.
For five years from 1939 until 1944, Rommel implemented the Nazi ideology of aggressive wars. Among the conquered populations were the majority of the victims of the Holocaust.
In 1939 among the earliest victims of the Holocaust were Polish Jewish officers and enlisted personnel executed when captured by Germans.
During the Polish campaign Rommel was commander of Hitler’s bodyguards (the Führer escort headquarters) as Hitler toured the Polish front.
From that position Rommel had to have been aware of the murder of Polish Jewish POWs.
During the 1940 Battle of France, troops under Rommel’s command motivated by the Nazi's racial ideology executed captured French Senegalese troops.
1940: Senegalese soldiers preparing to defend France against the Nazis.
Public domain image from Tales of War, page 239.
1944: French children with their Senegalese liberator.
Public domain image from Amére patrie, devoir de mémoire et de vérité
Carving on the gate of the French military cemetery in Chasselay with Senegalese soldiers massacred by Nazi troops including some under Rommel’s command.
The cemetery is designed in the traditional Senegalese burial grounds.
Fair use of image from by Petra Pulles at Tata Chasselay France – A WW2 Cemetery on French soil for massacred Senegalese troops
From 1941 to 1943 in North Africa Rommel reportedly refused to implement Nazi orders to execute Jewish and other categories of POWs. Many Jewish soldiers were serving in the British and Polish forces in North Africa.
That is further confirmation of the depth of Rommel’s knowledge of Nazi criminality.
While Rommel may have prohibited the execution of Jewish POWs at the front, no evidence exists that he did anything to stop the Nazis behind the front from rounding up of Sephardic Jews in Nazi occupied parts of North Africa for deportation to slave labor and death camps.
In 1943 when Rommel was given command of Normandy, he used slave labor to construct fortifications.
Stopping the Holocaust or protecting ethnic Germans?
By July, 1944, Rommel recognized that Germany was militarily defeated. Germany no longer had the military capacity to defend its borders.
To continue the war meant that the Soviets would overrun Germany.
Was Rommel’s 1944 dissent motivated by his concern for the potential sufferings of ethnic Germans at the hands of Soviet troops or to stop genocide?
July, 1944 status of the Holocaust
By July, 1944, most of Nazi Holocaust murders had already occurred.
The July 1944 assassination and coup attempts were much too late to save most victims.
Rommel’s role in the attempted coup and assassination
Rommel may not have supported assassination or a coup.
He may have hinted that after others killed Hitler and overthrew the Nazis he would be available to serve in the post-Nazi government and armed forces.
He may have looked the other way while members of his staff planned the coup and assassination. He refrained from alerting the Nazis of the plots to what if anything he knew.
As his troops were being defeated in Normandy he said to his superiors including Hitler that the time had come to negotiate an end to the war.
On July, 17, 1944 Rommel suffered a serious brain injury when British aircraft attacked his car near the Normandy front.
That injury seemed to have decreased his inhibitions on speech.
His comments became less guarded, more frequent, explicit, and strident.
On July 22, 1944, a coup and assassination Hitler were attempted. Both failed.
On October 14, 1944. the Nazis force Rommel to choose between torture, a show trial followed by an execution, and violent retaliation against his family or suicide.
To shield his family from retaliation, Rommel chose to execute himself by committing suicide.
My amateur historian’s assessment of Rommel’s legacy:
- 11 years of personally benefiting from the Nazi's policies.
- 5 years of waging the Nazi’s wars of aggression during which the majority of the Holocaust victims were captured.
- Being present in Poland when Polish Jewish POWs were executed.
- Being in command of troops who executed French Senegalese POWs.
- Use of slave labor to construct Normandy fortifications.
- After D-Day in 1944, stating that the Allies and Soviets had militarily defeated Germany and that Germany should end the war.
- Doing nothing to increase the chances of the success of the July, 1944 assassination and coup attempts.
- Dissent motivated more to protect ethnic Germans from the Soviets than to stop genocide.
From February to July, 1944, the 3110th Signal Service Battalion, my late father Felix A. Cizewski’s unit, and Rommel faced each other across the English Channel (La Manche in French).
Rommel was preparing to continue the Nazi occupation of France and the 3110th was building communications infrastructure to facilitate the supplies to the forces preparing to liberate France.
Links with sources and for more information:
(French) le maréchal erwin rommel se suicide le 14 octobre 1944: Site where I learned of the 1940 massacre of French Senegalese POWs by troops under Rommel’s command.
(French) Le Tata sénégalais
In depth historical background and context: An occasional feature of my family history blog where this was first published.
Shortlink to original on Wordpress: http://wp.me/p2ix3W-BD
Revised: October 18, 2012
Sunday, May 9, 2010
65th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe
Felix A. Cizewski's copy of the 45th Division News Extra edition, May 13, 1945, announcing the end of the war in Europe.
The full edition and larger images are on my family history web site: 45th Division News
(The original has been donated to the
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
which hold the copyright on reproductions of this copy.)
which hold the copyright on reproductions of this copy.)
65 years ago, my father, Felix A. Cizewski, got the news that Germany surrendered. The Germans had been defeated in the 45th Infantry Division's area of operations and the 45th had halted in and around Munich and Dachau a few days earlier.
As positive as this was, Felix did not yet know his fate. At this point, nothing indicated that he was going home. Was he to remain in Germany on occupation duty or be transferred to the Pacific for the war with Japan.
For the first time, foreign troops were in the annual Moscow victory parade The U.S. unit was C Company, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. This unit's history includes landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Allied Troops to Join 10,500 Russian Soldiers in Victory Parade by Alexander Bratersky,The Moscow Times, May 7, 2010.
| Best history of the 45th Infantry Division. | Best history of the end of the war in Europe. |
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Why Cinco de Mayo is also a U.S. holiday
 (Image from the Library of Congress/No known restrictions on publication.) |
In 1861, during the U.S. Civil War, France sent troops to Mexico and made Mexico into a French colony.
The U.S. was still committed to its foreign policy of opposing by force attempts to recolonize any American nation that had won their independence (the Monroe Doctrine). The Civil War prevented the U.S. from enforcing that policy. As Lincoln said regarding another dispute, only one war at a time.
However, Mexico resisted.
On May 5, 1862, at Pueblo outside of Mexico City, Mexican irregulars, guerrillas, and militia defeated the invading French forces.
While the French lost that battle, they still were able to capture Mexico City and impose colonial rule.
Despite losing their capitol and government, Mexico continued to resist.
Abraham Lincoln and the Union supported the Mexicans while the Confederacy hoped to trade support for the French colonization of Mexico for recognition of Confederate independence.
Abraham Lincoln and the Union supported the Mexicans while the Confederacy hoped to trade support for the French colonization of Mexico for recognition of Confederate independence.
At Lincoln's order in late 1863 Union forces landed from the Gulf of Mexico and seized Brownsville, Texas as a show of force and a warning to France.
After the surrender of the Confederacy, 50,000 Federal troops under General Philip Sheridan were deployed to the Mexican border with Texas.
France withdrew and the Mexicans overthrew the colonial government, completing their struggle which began with their victory on the first Cinco de Mayo.
The success of the Mexican resistance restored Mexican independence and saved the U.S. from engaging in another war immediately after the Civil War.
That's something both nations can celebrate together.
I wrote this in reaction to white supremacists advocating making Cinco de Mayo "Turn in an Illegal Day".
Thursday, April 29, 2010
65th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau
Entrance to the SS training camp and garrison
west of the Dachau prison compound.
west of the Dachau prison compound.
Felix A. Cizewski penciled on the back : "Dachau Germany Prison Camp."
The original has been donated to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
(Copyright: Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center)
(Copyright: Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center)
65 years ago today, "Task Force Sparks" of the 45th Infantry Division was fighting its way into Dachau. My father, PFC Felix A. Cizewski, was in the 45th Signal Company which was moving from Schrobenhausen, Germany, about 39 miles (63 kilometers) by road north of Dachau to Haimhausen, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) by road northeast of Dachau.
The Signal Company provided support for other units of the 45th such as "Task Force Sparks".
Felix and the Signal Company arrived at Dachau a few days later. Details of his experience and a copy of the 45th Division News with the story of the liberation of Dachau are at my family history web site:
The liberation of Dachau may have been one of the most powerful and traumatic experiences of my father's life.
A Disabled Veteran?
A Disabled Veteran?
The Rock of Anzio includes a well researched and detailed account of the 45th's liberation of Dachau.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Chicago's Polish-American community in mourning
Polish flag with mourning ribbon on the front of Polish-American grocery store Shop & Save at 5829 South Archer Avenue, Chicago.(Photo by Leonard H. Cizewski.)
Garfield Ridge, a southwest Chicago neighborhood just west of Midway Airport, is home to recent immigrants from Poland and descendants of previous ones. I lived there in the 1960s and 70s and relatives still do.
I visited this week and saw homes, businesses, and cars displayed the flag of Poland with mourning ribbons for the deaths in the tragic plane crash near Smolensk, Belarus. Poles, including one from Chicago, were traveling to a 70th anniversary memorial service at Katyn where Soviets massacred captured Poles in the early days of World War II.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Confederate History Month: Celebrate This, Virginia
145 years ago today, my great-great-grandfather-in-law, Anson Croman, was serving under General Grant when Grant dealt the final death blow to the Confederacy by accepting Lee's surrender,
Southeast of Appomattox Anson's unit, the 20th Michigan Infantry Regiment, was protecting Grant's flank and rebuilding the railroad to keep Grant supplied
Not only did today's events permanently answer the questions of secession and slavery, they were the beginning of the the civil rights movement that culminated in the election of President Obama.
To find Anson's approximate location, click on the at the image and link below to the West Point Atlas map of today's events. In the lower right corner find "IX Parke" That's Anson's and the 20th's corps and commander. A note on the map states they were stretched along the railroad from Petersburg to Farmville.
Southeast of Appomattox Anson's unit, the 20th Michigan Infantry Regiment, was protecting Grant's flank and rebuilding the railroad to keep Grant supplied
Not only did today's events permanently answer the questions of secession and slavery, they were the beginning of the the civil rights movement that culminated in the election of President Obama.
To find Anson's approximate location, click on the at the image and link below to the West Point Atlas map of today's events. In the lower right corner find "IX Parke" That's Anson's and the 20th's corps and commander. A note on the map states they were stretched along the railroad from Petersburg to Farmville.
The Defeat of Lee, 3-9 April 1865
(Public Domain Image/U.S. Military Academy)
(Public Domain Image/U.S. Military Academy)
| West Point Atlas of the American Civil War. | Best one volume history of the American Civil War. |
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