2008/08/24 New York
To dig
Political prisoners
Yesterday morning while working I thought without any obvious reason of “Die Moorsoldaten”. It’s a song my father used to listen to quite often.
The song was written and performed by political prisoners in concentration camp Börgermoor.
Here you can listen to the Moorsoldaten.
And this is the link to an English translation of the text. The decisions the translator made are sometimes debatable, but nevertheless it gives an impression.
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7 comments 
On the link they refer to Eugen Kogons’s book Der SS Staat (long time ago I bought it in Dutch translation)
As a boy I was horrified and fascinated by the look of the so called Muzelmannen, the near dead.
As a boy I was horrified and fascinated by the look of the so called Muzelmannen, the near dead.
No obvious reason
Is it a long time since you finished Sam Dresden's book? I think that's all the reason you need.Mieke
I don't believe there is a connection with Dresden's book.Thank you very much for this entry. This summer I spent in Ireland, living on Achill Island (which consists for a large part of bog) and visiting Blackwater Bog near Shannonbridge. This big bog-site is lifeless, nothing will grow in bog - not even a wurm - and if you get lost in the bog, the chances of survival are very low.
About two years after my grandfather died, I found out that he stayed in a KZ-lager near Hamburg. A "clear-voyant" came into my fathers shop when I was working with him (some 15 years ago) and told my father and me about it. My father knew, but he and my grandfather never told me and it was never discusses in my family, not even till today. I remember my grandfather as a very thin and fragile man, who almost never talked. I know I have this thing with bog, but don't know where it is coming from...I'll ask my father if he knows the song.
How's your god-son doing in school?
About two years after my grandfather died, I found out that he stayed in a KZ-lager near Hamburg. A "clear-voyant" came into my fathers shop when I was working with him (some 15 years ago) and told my father and me about it. My father knew, but he and my grandfather never told me and it was never discusses in my family, not even till today. I remember my grandfather as a very thin and fragile man, who almost never talked. I know I have this thing with bog, but don't know where it is coming from...I'll ask my father if he knows the song.
How's your god-son doing in school?
Jeanette
For what reason was your grandfather emprisoned in a KZ-lager? How long did he stay there?Hi, Mieke, I simply don't know the answer to your questions.
Accept for the information from an aunt, that it was close to Hamburg I only know two stories from that time: one about him hiding refugees in his house and the way my grandmother outsmarted a German soldier when the house was searched and another story about smuggling food. They were told to me by non-related persons that I met on a wedding, some years ago. After the war, they had lived with my grandparents, because they had no-one left to take care of them. If they have anything to do with his time in the lager I don't know.
Accept for the information from an aunt, that it was close to Hamburg I only know two stories from that time: one about him hiding refugees in his house and the way my grandmother outsmarted a German soldier when the house was searched and another story about smuggling food. They were told to me by non-related persons that I met on a wedding, some years ago. After the war, they had lived with my grandparents, because they had no-one left to take care of them. If they have anything to do with his time in the lager I don't know.
P.S. "Accept" has to be "Except".
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