Tears for a Photo of Jewish Children Lost

The picture you published of the Jewish children before their execution broke my heart (“Testament to the Holocaust’s Lessons,” April 10). The little girl in front crying, did she know her fate? If they had lived, perhaps one would have discovered a cure for some terrible disease; or perhaps one would have been a world-renowned poet. We will never know. And the little girl turned sideways. Who does she remind me of? Oh, I know, she reminds me of me.

We Jews will never forget, but will the rest of you remember?

Excuse the messy letter--I’m crying.

--SYLVIA DeVALL

Santa Monica

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As a World War II infantry soldier, my company liberated a concentration camp named Gunsirchen Lager near Wels, Austria, on May 1, 1945.

I don’t apologize for myself or my comrades who may or may not have killed or wounded the officers and guard at the “hellhole.” The only apology I give is that we didn’t get the person, or persons, who established the death camps.

Seeing the picture of these children broke my heart, even after 55 years. If there is a God, I’m sure he has forgiven me for my rage while we liberated this camp. And if there is a hell, may the people who put to death millions of innocent children, men and women suffer forever and ever.

As a witness to this, even though I’m not Jewish, I’ll never forget it.

--OLLIE DAY

Joshua Tree

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I commend publisher Louis Weber for publishing a book, “The Holocaust Chronicle: A History in Words and Pictures,” not to make a profit, but to disseminate information as widely as possible about one of the darkest periods of human history.

Even though this oversized book is 765 pages and contains more than 1,700 photographs, it costs only $35. In addition, thousands were given to public libraries, schools and other institutions.

It’s important that everyone knows about the Holocaust, not just to prevent it from happening again, but to discover the incredible strength of the Jewish people. They were not only able to endure and survive the Holocaust and its unbearable pain and suffering, but were able to recover and thrive.

The Holocaust was not only a mass genocide, but a glorious triumph of a courageous group of people. One doesn’t have to be Jewish to appreciate what physical and emotional pain they went through, only human.

--KENNETH L. ZIMMERMAN

Huntington Beach

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