World

Memories Of

Simon Wiesenthal leaves a rich
and varied legacy. He died on
Sept 20 at age 96-

Wiesenthal

Local Holocaust survivor liberated from same
camp as famed Nazi hunter.

September 29 2005

n May 5,
bringing the killers of
1945, a
our families to justice,
number of
including the cursed
walking skeletons
Adolf Eichmann.
were liberated from
It is ironic to note
the notorious death
that Mr. Wiesenthal was
camp Mauthausen
involved in apprehend-
etk
in Austria by the
ing Nazi war criminals
Sam Offen
11th Armored
from an office in
Commentary
Division of the U.S.
Vienna since Austria
Army. I was one of
had more Nazis per
those lucky sur-
capita than Germany.
vivors.
Our U.S. Justice Department
Another was Simon
took note and established a
Wiesenthal. Chances are we
Special Investigation Office to
may have met (Polish Jews
find these war criminals. They
were barracked in one section
did bring a number of camp
of the camp) but did not know guards to trial. However,
each other's names because in
although found guilty, they
the eyes of the Nazis, we
were punished only with
ceased to be human beings; we deportation, since the crimes
were only known by numbers.
were not committed on
Many years later, I learned
American soil.
that he founded the Museum
Due to many appeals, few
of Tolerance in Los Angeles
were deported. Thus, they will
(now a Simon Wiesenthal
not have to answer for their
Center Museum). I joined and
heinous crimes, ever!
visited this institution and
Simon Wiesenthal was
learned more about the accom- known for his pursuit of Nazis.
plishments of this amazing
But he leaves behind a legacy
man.
of fighting passionately for
Instead of continuing in his
other causes, like civil rights,
chosen profession as an archi-
and concern for modern vic-
tect, he embarked on a new
tims of genocide in places like
one, namely a Nazi hunter. Just Rwanda, Darfur and Bosnia.
like me, he was not looking for
Unfortunately, extermination
revenge, but for justice. He
of ethnic groups exists today
could not fathom that tens of
just as in the time of the Nazis.
thousands of Nazis were never
Therefore, Mr. Wiesenthal's
brought to justice for the bru-
message of justice is just as
tal murder of 6 million Jews.
relevant today.
So he began his lifelong
Consequently, he is a hero,
noble mission. He became a
not only to Jewish survivors,
spokesman for our late
but also to the whole free
kedoshim (holy ones), if you
world. May he truly rest in
will. He was successful in
peace. ❑

am Offen, a Holocaust survivor who now lives in West
Bloomfieki, wrote his memoirs, which were published
May 5, 2005, exactly 60 years after he and Simon
Wiesenthal were liberated from Mauthausen. A portion of
the proceeds benefits the Holocaust Memorial Center in
Farmington Hills where the book When Hope Prevails is
available. Mr. Offen will appear at the annual Jewish Book
Fair at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield
during the Local Authors Fair on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. Part of the proceeds also will benefit the
victims of Hurricane Katrina.

C

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