<
https://kyivindependent.com/hitler-wanted-to-kill-me-because-im-jewish-putin-wants-to-kill-me-because-im-ukrainian/>
"
Editor’s Note: The following is a translated transcript of the address
delivered by Roman Shvartsman, the chairman of the Odesa Association of Jews
and a Holocaust survivor, at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) Special
Gathering hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24,
2025, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of
Ukraine.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
A month ago, the German Bundestag commemorated the 80th anniversary of the
liberation of Auschwitz. I had the opportunity to speak there as someone who
lived through oppression, brutal violence, and endless suffering during World
War II. I told them: (Adolf) Hitler wanted to kill me because I am Jewish.
(Russian President Vladimir) Putin wants to kill me because I am Ukrainian.
You swore: ‘Never again.’ This ‘never again’ has arrived. If you are serious,
you must support Ukraine differently than you have before. Even if you have
already done a lot, we now need action.
I don’t need to tell you about the suffering of Jews and Ukrainians under
German occupation. Babyn Yar is widely known today as a symbol of this abuse,
but there were around 2,000 such sites in Ukraine. People in the West know
little about this.
These were ordinary people carrying out shootings, beatings, burnings, and mass
killings. And those who survived the war often returned to their civilian
lives, undisturbed.
Germany now does a lot to remember. ‘Never again’ accompanies every memorial
service, but this ‘never again’ is missing a second part. After the
unprecedented murders, after humanity stared into the abyss of National
Socialism, simply saying ‘never again’ is not enough.
‘Never again’ needs a second part: ‘Never again’ defenseless victims. ‘Never
again’ crimes against humanity."
Via Mark Lansbury and Diane A.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
