The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
This Saturday is Annual Holocaust Remembrance. It has been seventy-nine years since the liberation of Auschwitz. And in that span of a lifetime, while a few survivors are still among us, many school children know nothing about this dark time in history. Others deny that the genocide ever happened. (How clever of the Jewish people to stage such a thing…even before photo shop.)
Even as we shout “Never again”, Antisemitism rears its evil head once more. Not that it ever went away. So I will step off my soap box long enough to share a fictitious story based on facts.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
MEMORY’S HARVEST
In 1947 six-year-old Lyudmila moved from Poland with Father to her uncle’s dairy farm in upstate New York. She milked cows and gathered eggs. Every morning the Catskills kissed the sky. A bright, happy place for a child.
“So young she won’t remember,” whispered Aunt Dora one night over dinner.
Weeks later Lyudmila twisted her ankle on a tree root.
“Just a sprain,” said Dr. Meinenger. “You will be sehr gut as new, Liebling.”
His gentle touch and familiar accent stirred sleeping memories.
Dr. Mengele’s gloved fingers.
Her twin sister’s severed limbs on the operating table.
Lyudmila would never forget.
If you have fifteen minutes to spare and want to know more about the Angel of Death CLICK HERE.
A handfull of you might remember this story from the first time I posted it in 2013. It’s interesting to see how many FFrs have come and gone and some have returned. Thanks to all for reading and commenting. Shalom, Rochelle
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I got goosebumps on reading the second last line.
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Dear Reena,
Your goosebumps are high praise. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Touching tale.
How quickly a bright & happy place of a child got converted to a tragic one…
Sad memories 😦
Hope all have happy memories to remember & celebrate.
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Dear Anita,
Some memories can’t be erased. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Absolutely chilling, Rochelle
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Many thanks, Neil.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You shared this before my time here at FF. As if anyone could ever forget the horrors, especially when viewed first hand Lyudmilla had.
No one should ever have to remember such things but it is a cruel world we live in. We can only hope that her life from now on is one of peace and comfort, even if she will never forget. Wonderfully written, my friend.
Shalom and lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Yes, this one was from 2013. Not many left from that group of FFr’s 😉 It seemed the time to repost it. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom and lotsa memorable hugs,
Rochelle
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Before my time, that’s for sure!
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Horrific.
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No other way to put it, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such horror 😐
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Horror indeed. Thank you, Bernadette.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An expertly crafted change in mood there, Rochelle. I still don’t recall how I read extensively on these atrocities in my formative years. I just recall what I read with faultless efficiency, year after year.
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Dear Sandra,
These stories of the atrocities were certainly part of my formative years. And still more stories keep cropping up. Thank you for reading and commenting again. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a horrible time in history. We can only pray that it would remain a historical fact and never be repeated. Unfortunately, such atrocities and hatred remain in our world. If we erase the past, we are doomed to repeat. Never forget.
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Dear Anonymous Jan,
Sadly hatred and evil never go away, do they? Thanks m’luv.
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Is there any other name that inspires such fear and horror as Mengele? Hopefully the lessons learned will not be lost to time.
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Dear Iain,
He was a beast…evil incarnate. And the most horrific thing about it is that he was never brought to justice. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochele
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Christ Rochelle, thats horrific, lest we forget… Haunting stuff, im afraid mine is slightly less serious.
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Dear Shrawley,
Someone has to offer comic relief. It certainly wasn’t me this week. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochele
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I try!!
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I just hit “Like,” as if one could ever like such a horror story. People do tend to vastly underestimate what a child remembers. The picture you drew is so vivid, it can hardly be erased from the mind of one who was there.
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That” “anonymous” person is Granonine 🙂
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Dear Anonymous Linda,
I’ve no doubt you’re familiar with how much a child can bury and then remember. It is hard to like a story like this…I certainly don’t. Thank you for your validating comments and letting me know who you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So often, when we talk about the past, we say “their actions have to be viewed through the lens of the time.” No lens, and no time, can make what was done comprehensible.
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Dear Jen,
I’m afraid time could never heal those wounds. Thank you for your validating comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s funny because Dr. Meinenger’s words reminded me of my “Doctor” Grandma’s words. And then came the next three sentences and what a shock! I’m not sure if ‘chilling’ is the correct word to describe my reaction to this story or just plain sad. Or something I can’t think of right now.
And this: “many school children know nothing about this dark time in history.” Here’s a prayer that school children everywhere don’t learn about it first-hand.
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Dear Michael,
The fact that today’s school children are ignorant of what happened not even a century ago. Thank you for reading and leaving such a grand comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s horrifying how cruel humans can be. Worse part is humans as a collective don’t seem to learn.
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Dear Tannille,
All I can say to your comment is, “amen.” Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sad time and yet people forget or else can’t comprehend the awfulness that creeps around the world.
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Dear James,
It was a sad time. And there are those who would like it to happen again. Thank you for the extra effort you made in commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, stirring stuff Rochelle!
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Thank you, Mr. B.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Evil that will never be forgotten.
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And it’s evil that should never be forgotten. Thank you, whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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this story brought back memories of my visit to auschwitz. how sad that antisemitism and far-right extremism still exist even in today’s america.
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Dear Plaridel,
I can only imagine what it was like to physically stand in Auschwitz. I know what the photos do to me. I don’t understand baseless hatred. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love how you do this!All through my years of schooling we learned about the holocaust, the second world war, the atrocities. Do they not teach that any more? How can people deny it? Rhetorical question, but still.
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Dear Dawn,
It’s mind boggling that there are deniers. Apparently it isn’t taught in schools. I don’t get that either. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mind boggling indeed. I feel so sorry for these young people who are not allowed to know history.
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Oh, dear God, Rochelle! What an absolute horror. Day terrors and nightmares never to be forgotten.
Masterfully written.
Peace to you, Rochelle c 🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
I can’t even imagine what people were forced to go through. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I had read about Mengele before and saw the movies, “The Boys From Brazil,” and so knew a little. Watching the video with the twins and how things were with Mengele’s name on a factory and how little, if anything, was done as far as accountability with his wealthy family when the video was made, in 1992, I would like to get a current status of that family and if those bones were really his.
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Dear Lisa,
It’s appalling that Mengele lived out his days without paying for his horrendous crimes. I would also like to know about those bones. Thank you so much for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, it is definitely one of those things that makes you go huh?! The devil is sly and will do whatever is necessary to pull people from the light 😦 Trying to figure out the answer now will only drive us to madness. We can only hope we’ll receive the answer in the next realm.
{{{HUGS}}}
Shalom,
Lisa
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How could she ever forget? A touching tale indeed.
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Thank you, Keith.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Harrowing story Rochelle ❤️
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Dear Angela,
Harrowing indeed. I can’t even begin to imagine. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
How horrific for her. The last line was gut-wrenching. That’s a memory she will never forget.
May we never forget the horrors that so many suffered at the hands of evil men and women.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
A hearty amen. Anu zokhreem. We remember. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Querida Rochelle,
No No No … we should never forget.
You always showcase stirring stories that teach and help us
to know the stories that have never been told. Chills from the ending.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Abrazos y carino,
Izzy 😎
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Querida Izzy,
To think I was never one for history in school. Go figure. 😉 Thank you for a lovely and validating comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel like you about geography. I never enjoyed that subject. I have loved history. When we travel we always try to find something historical. 😎
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A chilling tale, gave me goosebumps as well. I’ve read up a little of Mengele on Wikipedia. Dark times, lest we forget.
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Dear Fleur,
To imagine such a savage with an MD. Thank you for your validating comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well written. And we must never forget.
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Thank you, Patrick.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Your ending made me gasp. As hard as it is to recall such atrocities, we must. It seems we don’t learn from history, but we should never give up trying. A very disturbing story, masterfully told.
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Dear Margaret,
It seems that we really don’t learn from history. Your gasp is high praise. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh that poor poor child. What a terrifying and terrible thing to remember. I’ve got shivers of horror reading this one.
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Dear Laurie,
Although my Lyudmilla is fictitious, there are those whose memories are as horrendous. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ooh! Yuck! That gave me chills. I can’t imagine how one could do that to another living being, much less a child.
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Dear Nobbin,
I can’t fathom it. And now we see the same kind of brutality against children in the Middle East. I hope there’s a special place in Hell for Mengele.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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