Rob Fransman is going back to the Nazi death camp Sobibor in Poland with his granddaughter. He wants to lay a memorial stone for his parents who were murdered there by the Nazis in 1943. Mr Fransman is acting as a civil co-prosecutor in the trial in Munich of former Nazi John Demjanjuk.
by Sebastiaan Gottlieb and Thijs Papôt
Mr Demjanjuk, who is 90 years old, is accused of being a camp guard and of having been involved in the murder of at least 29,000 Jewish people. About 40 Holocaust victims – survivors and next of kin – are calling for the defendant to receive the maximum sentence.
On the eve of the verdict, Mr Fransman is making his first visit to the place where his parents were killed. “The simple fact that I’m here with my granddaughter, who symbolises the rest of the family, I regard as victory: we’re still here,” he says smiling.
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This was such a moving interview with a man who lost his parents, who were murdered under heinous circumstances, and lost the years that every young man should have. He spoke with such hope for the future and a lack of bitterness and a feeling of revenge that I found wonderful. I was awed when he was asked if he told his children and grandchildren continuously and he said he didn't because it was in their genes but that he told non-Jews because they needed to know.
I agree with you! I sat in my car already at my destination to listen to him speak. Such wisdom from someone who could legitimately be still living in pain and bitterness yet by all accounts, seems at peace and hopeful. I love how frank he was about the sentimentality (or lack of) what he's feeling, almost felt like the interviewer was trying to get him to "feel more" when in fact, Fransman was quite at peace with his life and his family's life. I loved hearing him speak.
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