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 © Jen Pendergast
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Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
THE SEVEN DWARVES OF AUSCHWITZ
“As in the fairytale Snow White, there were seven of us,” says Perla. “My brothers, Micki and Avram, my sisters, Frieda, Rozika, Elizabeth and me. All of us entertainers—singing, dancing and playing musical instruments.”
Tears sting her eyes. “Not only were we deformed, we were also Jews. The Nazis deported us to Auschwitz.
“We fascinated Dr. Mengele. He syphoned our blood, extracted our teeth and did painful experiments.” Perla shudders. “Yet he kept us alive.”
“Are you sorry he wasn’t executed?” she’s asked.
“No. I was saved by the grace of the Devil. Let God give Mengele his due.”
To read a more about them CLICK HERE.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
It gives me goosebumps.
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Me, too, Reena. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow.
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Thank you, Trish.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I am torn between saying ‘how stalwart a people’ and ‘how can we not fight back’. This post definitely gives me pause Rochelle.
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Dear Violet,
It’s one of those things that when I run across it, I think, How did I miss this story? And yet the deniars march on. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, you have rekindled the pain of a terrible time and shockingly reminded us of the evil that lurks beneath the cloaks of power.
In my view, it is the emotional ineptitude of our politicians and leaders who resort to war regardless of the human and destructive cost. Yes, they are mad.
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Dear James,
What terrifies me is that as the memories fade into the past, history seems to be repeating itself in other places. I fear that madness that abounds. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What remarkable and tragic tale. 😢 To suffer the horrors of Auschwitch and Mengele… I have no words.
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Dear Lesley,
It is unimaginable, isn’t it? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hard to believe such evil. Thank you for writing, Rochelle. 🙏
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I liked the saved by the devil ending
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Dear Neil,
A quote from Perla herself. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Once again you have succeeded in teaching us in the most pleasant manner (even if the subject is difficult). You know, you could have a sideline teaching history 😉
The horrors this family lived through!
Shalom and lotsa learned love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Sometimes I look back and think perhaps I would’ve enjoyed being a teacher. Ah well, I’ll just confine it to FF and my young Hebrew students. 😉 Thank you as always for your encouraging comments.
Shalom and lotsa understanding hugs,
Rochelle
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You would have been particularly good at history. Dunno about art – some can do but not teach; you already teach with your writing so….
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“Grace of the Devil.” Chilling.
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Dear James,
Perla’s words. Definitely chilling. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another heart-rending snippet of history, at which you excel. Such evil that lives in the hearts of mankind.
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Sorry, this is Granonine. I failed to log in.
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Dear Linda,
As I’ve said before, just when I think there couldn’t possibly be any more stories I hadn’t heard, another crops up. What the Nazis did is unimaginable. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How could anyone be so heartless, so cruel?
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Dear Keith,
I can’t even fathom it. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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❤️
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❤ Thanks, Ted. ❤
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is news to me. Wow!
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Dear Peter,
It was news to me, too. So of course I had to write about it. How people could be so sick is beyond me. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No story comment – I won’t read yours till I’ve written mine – but I don’t recognise this photo at all, is it definitely mine??? Happy to take credit if it is (my memory is notoriously terrible), but in case there was a mixup I wanted to check!
Jen
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Hi Jen,
I’m pretty sure it’s yours. It was one I found in our FB thread in private messaging. 😉 I look forward to reading your story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There is a special place in hell for him and those of his ilk. That last line/quote is one I will have to give some thought to.
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Dear Lisa,
The final line was in Perla’s words, not mine. I’d like for his execution to have been slow and excrutiating, then filmed so the world could ‘enjoy’ it. I’m sure he has his own burn pit in hell. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, couldn’t agree with you more.
You’re welcome,
Shalom,
Lisa
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the evil that mengele and other men can do. when i visited auschwitz and birkenau concentration camps, i was overwhelmed with sadness. still, many still believe that the holocaust didn’t happen.
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Dear Plaridel,
I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like to have visited the concentration camps. When I visited the Holocaust museum in Israel I was reduced to a puddle of tears. How can anyone believe it never happened? Beyond me. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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OH! That last line. There is a special place in hell for all those who carried out atrocities against Jews, Catholics, gays, and basically, anyone they didn’t like. Well done.
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I agree, Whoever You Are. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sad story.
At least some were saved to share the tale unlike many who were killed mercilessly.
God is watching and everyone will get their due.
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Dear Anita,
Sadly, too few were saved by comparison to 6 million. Thank you for the read and your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Josef Mengele, eh! Much loved by the KKK and no doubt by a lot of others (no names, please). The story is not finished.
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Dear Patrick,
I’m sure he’s still a hero to some sick minds. No othe story isn’t finished, and I wonder if it will ever be. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How horribly sad. This depth of cruelty is beyond understanding. May God have his way. Thank you for bringing their story to our attention, Rochelle.
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Dear Brenda,
I can’t imagine that kind of depravity. Yet, the disease marches merrily on, doesn’t it? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a nightmarish life this family led, yet, it was likely their dwarfism which helped saved them. When they weren’t being treated like guinea pigs, they were “entertainment” for Mengele and the others. Thank you once again for this enlightening look back in time. Your story has chilled me to the bone.
Shalom
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
This was the first I’d heard of this family. What they might’ve once looked at as a drawback, became their salvation (in a warped sort of way). And no small miracle that the whole family survived. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s heartbreaking.
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Breaks my heart. Well told, as always, Rochelle. Nothing has changed. The devil dances on this earth and humankind falls to temptation, one nation after the other.
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Dear Gabi,
The sons of Amalek march merrily along from place to place. It is heart breaking. I don’t understand. Thank you for your kind comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s human to be curious about or fear something or someone who is different. Great things can be born of an inquisitive mind or what should be unimaginable horrors. Both of which are also human. How sad that they fell under the latter, and worse that it was a cruel man with unlimited power and no conscience.
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Well said and tragically true, Nobbin. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hope he burns in hell.
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No doubt he has his own special spot there, Dawn. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh how horrid.
Evil in plain sight.
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