Comments on: Miracle: The Girl from Rotterdam http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 22 May 2013 17:59:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Major Sennef http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-810129 Major Sennef Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:58:37 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-810129 Every while you come across little gems, only this time it is two: the original movie scene from 1947 (surprisingly hard to find on You Tube) and this blog that made me realize that in the time of my grandparents the Dutch could be considered refugees. Rotterdam is rebuilt and the Dutch are rich now, accepting refugees themselves; but it is good to be reminded that only two generations ago the Dutch were in the same position as the Somali, Syrian and Afghan refugees are in now. Remarkable good Dutch by both Kris and the girl by the way. Every while you come across little gems, only this time it is two:
the original movie scene from 1947 (surprisingly hard to find on You Tube)
and this blog that made me realize that in the time of my grandparents the Dutch could be considered refugees.

Rotterdam is rebuilt and the Dutch are rich now, accepting refugees themselves; but it is good to be reminded that only two generations ago the Dutch were in the same position as the Somali, Syrian and Afghan refugees are in now.

Remarkable good Dutch by both Kris and the girl by the way.

]]> By: Mike H. http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-796901 Mike H. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:38:00 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-796901 Rob, the cost was unimaginably high...and worth it in every way. I would hate to see the world today if our side had failed back then. Rob, the cost was unimaginably high…and worth it in every way. I would hate to see the world today if our side had failed back then.

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785566 Rob Citino Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:29:03 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785566 Thanks, Jason and Len. And SiSi, my best to your family, and to your city! Happy New Year to all. --Rob C Thanks, Jason and Len. And SiSi, my best to your family, and to your city!

Happy New Year to all.

–Rob C

]]> By: SiSi http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785489 SiSi Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:26:42 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785489 I'm from Rotterdam myself and came across this blog by accident. I appreciate you sparing a thought for the tragic history of our city. My grandmother is als a "girl from Rotterdam" and lost her younger brother in the air raid. The city stilll bears the scars. Instead of rebuilding the almost completely destroyed historical city centre, the people chose to work hard and build a new and modern city (and for more than 40 years the biggest harbor in the world!), so thoughts like yours regularly cross my mind. Holiday greetings from another girl from Rotterdam and a happy new year! I'm from Rotterdam myself and came across this blog by accident. I appreciate you sparing a thought for the tragic history of our city. My grandmother is als a "girl from Rotterdam" and lost her younger brother in the air raid. The city stilll bears the scars. Instead of rebuilding the almost completely destroyed historical city centre, the people chose to work hard and build a new and modern city (and for more than 40 years the biggest harbor in the world!), so thoughts like yours regularly cross my mind.

Holiday greetings from another girl from Rotterdam and a happy new year!

]]> By: Len East http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785480 Len East Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:08:36 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785480 I watched the original for the first time over Christmas (before I read this blog entry) and the significance of the "Dutch" orphan to the time period was completely lost on me. Those are very insightful thoughts drawn from what most people often overlook. Loved the movie also. I watched the original for the first time over Christmas (before I read this blog entry) and the significance of the "Dutch" orphan to the time period was completely lost on me. Those are very insightful thoughts drawn from what most people often overlook. Loved the movie also.

]]> By: Jason Qualey http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785161 Jason Qualey Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:52:38 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785161 Thanks for sharing this thought. That's a very touching scene, but I didn't realize that Dutch refugees came to this country. I too love films from this time period and you miss a lot of references because we are so far removed from what people were living through in those days. I have older relatives that remember German POW's working on potatoe farms where I grew up. Keep those thoughts coming! Merry Christmas. Thanks for sharing this thought. That's a very touching scene, but I didn't realize that Dutch refugees came to this country. I too love films from this time period and you miss a lot of references because we are so far removed from what people were living through in those days. I have older relatives that remember German POW's working on potatoe farms where I grew up. Keep those thoughts coming! Merry Christmas.

]]> By: Rob Citino http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785145 Rob Citino Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:04:38 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785145 Thanks, Bruce... appreciate the kind word. And Luke, good point(s). I'm with you on this. You can be a hard-boiled analyst of the air war, but still pause from time to time to contemplate the cost. --RC Thanks, Bruce… appreciate the kind word. And Luke, good point(s). I'm with you on this. You can be a hard-boiled analyst of the air war, but still pause from time to time to contemplate the cost. –RC

]]> By: Luke Truxal http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785143 Luke Truxal Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:49:26 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785143 Sometimes I think the Rotterdam raid gets forgotten. First, compared to the Blitz and the Combined Bomber Offensive it was not nearly as destructive. That is not to say that Rotterdam's losses were not insignificant. They were, but it was not as infamous as the raids we do remember: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, London, and basically all of Germany. I am glad you wrote this, because I never thought to think of Rotterdam. Did you notice how the movie described the girl? She was an orphan. In an indirect way this movie shows the destructive nature of the war that was unleashed upon the world in 1939. A new kind of warfare, where major cities could be erased in a matter of days or, by the end of the war, minutes. Not only was this possible, it was accepted and promoted on all sides. For all we know her parents could have been killed by the Nazis, Allied bombers, or killed in a cross fire between the two sides. Does it matter though who killed her parents? In the end they are still gone. Not to put a damper on the whole World War II experience, because I do think the right side won and that the war was necessary to stop Germany, Italy, and Japan. However, the cost is what disturbs me. Sometimes I think the Rotterdam raid gets forgotten. First, compared to the Blitz and the Combined Bomber Offensive it was not nearly as destructive. That is not to say that Rotterdam's losses were not insignificant. They were, but it was not as infamous as the raids we do remember: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, London, and basically all of Germany.

I am glad you wrote this, because I never thought to think of Rotterdam. Did you notice how the movie described the girl? She was an orphan. In an indirect way this movie shows the destructive nature of the war that was unleashed upon the world in 1939. A new kind of warfare, where major cities could be erased in a matter of days or, by the end of the war, minutes. Not only was this possible, it was accepted and promoted on all sides. For all we know her parents could have been killed by the Nazis, Allied bombers, or killed in a cross fire between the two sides. Does it matter though who killed her parents? In the end they are still gone.

Not to put a damper on the whole World War II experience, because I do think the right side won and that the war was necessary to stop Germany, Italy, and Japan. However, the cost is what disturbs me.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.historynet.com/miracle-the-girl-from-rotterdam.htm#comment-785142 Bruce Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:36:22 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13684852#comment-785142 "Sometimes I wish I could just watch a movie like other people." Nah. That's something special, to have a thought like that about "The Girl from Rotterdam." "Sometimes I wish I could just watch a movie like other people." Nah. That's something special, to have a thought like that about "The Girl from Rotterdam."

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