Call Sign November 2000

DAC DRIVER'S DAUGHTER:
A VIEW OF THE HOLOCAUST

DaC driver Paul Shaw (B19) has a 14 year old daughter, Natalie, who attends Park High School in Stanmore. As part of her studies on the subject of The Holocaust, she was asked to write a poem. That poem has now been accepted by The Imperial War Museum - home of The Holocaust Exhibition.
The poem will be used as part of the written project material for teachers and students visiting the exhibition. Call Sign is pleased to be able to reproduce it here...

To put Natalie Shaw's sentiments into perspective, Call Sign is also reproducing 'First They Came For The Jews' by the German Protestant theologian Pastor Niemoller, who wrote it during WW2 while imprisoned by Nazis for his anti-Hitler stance...

FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me...
Pastor Niemoller

The Holocaust

by Natalie Shaw

A normal life,
A normal home,
Normal friends,
They were free to roam.

They weren't classed as different,
They were just the same,
They didn't ask for trouble,
They weren't to blame.

This all changed
When the Nazis came
They made others feel low,
And put them to shame.

They took away everything,
All that people had,
Their belongings, home comforts,
No reason to be glad.

The Nazis sent them packing,
On a cramped cattle truck,
No room for sitting,
So they had to stand up.

When they reached their destination
They arrived in Hell,
Would they survive?
Only time would tell.

They put them through misery,
No luxuries, no food,
No facilities, no kindness,
This was more than plain rude.

The past was all gone,
Rules from a new book,
Values of no importance,
Nowhere to look.

The end of their lives,
Most of them were dead,
Nazis were evil,
It has to be said.

Nothing so bad
Should happen again,
So many lives taken,
Way back then.

We've come to an end,
All the murders have ceased,
May their innocent souls,
Rest in peace.