Don Palabraz

Subversive Historian – 03/23/10

{I hope this post makes the History Channel proud} The Enabling Act of 1933 Back in the day on March 23rd, 1933, Adolf Hitler consolidated his dictatorial powers in Germany through the passage of the Enabling Act. Euphemistically titled the “Law for the Removal of the Distress of People and Reich,” the legislation effectively dissolved any notions [...]

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Subversive Historian – 11/23/09

Von Ossietzky’s Peace Prize Back in the day on November 23rd, 1936, the Nobel Committee chose to award its Peace Prize for the previous year to pacifist and journalist Carl von Ossietzky. The honor was announced at a time when the German anti-fascist was hospitalized and kept under constant surveillance by Gestapo forces.Von Ossietzky’s health had [...]

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Subversive Historian – 06/22/09

Joe Louis Defeats Max Schmeling Back in the day on June 22nd, 1938, African-American boxer Joe Louis defeated the German pugilist Max Schmeling in a highly touted rematch. Unlike any other fight before it, the contest was imbued with racial and ideological undertones. Louis, the pride of African-Americans living in oppressive conditions in the U.S., was [...]

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Subversive Historian – 05/07/09

The Sinking of the Lusitania Back in the day on May 7th 1915, the Lusitania, a British luxury liner, was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. Departing six days earlier from New York to Liverpool, a single torpedo was able to destroy the ship in eighteen minutes. Nearly 1,200 passengers aboard were [...]

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Subversive Historian – 04/09/09

The Hanging of Dietrich Bonhoeffer Back in the day on April 9th, 1945, Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged with piano wire by the Nazis at the concentration camp in Flössenburg, Germany. Executed at the age of 39 and just one month before the end of World War II, Bonhoeffer had immediately spoken out against the [...]

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