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ADOPTED BY THE Nazi Party in the 1930s, Hitler’s infamous ‘sieg heil’ (meaning ‘hail victory’) salute was mandatory for all German citizens as a demonstration of loyalty to the Führer, his party, and his nation.
August Landmesser, the lone German refusing to raise a stiff right arm amid Hitler’s presence at a 1936 rally, had been a loyal Nazi.
Landmesser joined the Nazi Party in 1931 and began to work his way up the ranks of what would become the only legal political affiliation in the country.
Two years later, Landmesser fell madly in love with Irma Eckler, a Jewish woman, and proposed marriage to her in 1935.
After his engagement to a Jewish woman was discovered, Landmesser was expelled from the Nazi Party.
Landmesser and Eckler decided to file a marriage application in Hamburg, but the union was denied under the newly enacted Nuremberg Laws.
The couple welcomed their first daughter, Ingrid, in October 1935.
And then on June 13, 1936, Landmesser gave a crossed-arm stance during Hitler’s christening of a new German navy vessel.
The act of defiance stands out amid the throng of Nazi salutes.
In 1937, fed up, Landmesser attempted to flee Nazi Germany to Denmark with his family. But he was detained at the border and charged with ‘dishonouring the race’ or ‘racial infamy’ under the Nuremberg Laws.
A year later, Landmesser was acquitted for a lack of evidence and was instructed to not have a relationship with Eckler.
Refusing to abandon his wife, Landmesser ignored Nazi wishes and was arrested again in 1938 and sentenced to nearly three years in a concentration camp.
He would never see the woman he loved or his child again.
The secret state police also arrested Eckler, who was several months pregnant with the couple’s second daughter.
She gave birth to Irene in prison and was sent to an all-women’s concentration camp soon after her delivery.
Eckler is believed to have been transferred to what the Nazi’s called a “euthanasia centre” in 1942, where she was murdered with 14,000 others.
After his prison sentence, Landmesser worked a few jobs before he was drafted into war in 1944.
A few months later, he was declared missing in action in Croatia.
- Amanda Macias
Yes,watched it all the way through,really enjoyed this tournament,and some achievement from the young man,never have I seen such a natural darts player as him.
@Deano: only similarity i can think of his mvg at 17 winning the bdo masters. But littler seems even better than that. He’s relentless on the 19s, always a great trait to have also.
@Brian Dunne: *is mvg
@Brian Dunne: Is this written in code?
@Patrick MC Dermott: ha! Suppose you’d need to be into darts to get most of that to be fair!
@Brian Dunne: Bullseye,Brian
Hats off to the 44 year old, he plays like he was 16, no inhibitions, great stuff.
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: all that talk about him is fairly poor tbh. He is only 16. Bad form all those that keep harping on about his appearance.
@Setanta O’Toole: It’s sad really
@Setanta O’Toole: what, are you getting offended because a 16 yr old looks older? Your life must be dreadfully upsetting
@Setanta O’Toole: It is a bit of craic tbh, and I’m not the 1st person to make this observation, great talent and obvs it’s good for the game but let’s be honest, Darts players ain’t Pro Triathletes are they, pies, booze and fags are the staple and that’s why it’s a good craic.
@Dave Harris: No, i’m saying it’s bad form to slate a young lad constantly over his appearance. Not too controversial a take i think, you look to be more upset over it.
@Dave Harris: “your life must be dreadfully upsetting”……Good one Dave. It’s a bit sad that adults are coming on a public forum to make fun of a 16 year old boys appearance. I think that if you feel the need to do this your life must be dreadfully upsetting!….. There have been other more derogatory comments that have been deleted
@SFmeansSheetForFree: yeah it is, especially when your missus knocks over…. Wha!…. Think you missed the point. There something sad about adults posting on a public forum insulting the appearance of a 16 year old boy whether he sees it or not. The majority of people appreciate that he looks older than his age but they don’t have the need to post insulting comments about it…… I wonder if the mirror is kind to those posters. We’re all perfect behind our keyboards aren’t we?!?!
Love the old darts, you have to admire what Barry Hearn has done with the darts,taken it from dingy halls with a few hundred people, to major arenas with thousands of fans. Definitely on my list to go to the Ally Pally.
@The Firestarter: to be fair the old bdo championship at lakeside was always a great spectacle. As was the initial pdc tournaments at the circus tavern. Bigger crowds are great but certainly a less knowledgeable crowd than years ago
@The Firestarter: Ah the lakeside was a much better venue
Darts standard prior to Christmas is usually very poor but it’s exceptional since. Humphries will have too much for Littler but my god, what a future he has, as long as he stays off the kebabs.
@Peter: yes possibly,if humphries plays the way he did last night,but will he play the same,littler I expect will put him under a lot more pressure than Williams did,
@Deano: neither Williams or Cross made it hard work for both Lukes. Potentially the first time Littler will be under pressure is tonight, but Humphries has had some close games already. All depends how Humphries deals with the crowd, no doubt they want to see Littler win.
You don’t need Skysports to watch the darts.
@Paul: think you do need it. How you get it is another question!!
SAFE BET in the bookies…..
‘ LUKE to win’
@Ken Mc Carthy: think you do need it. How you get it is another question!!!!
Littler looks like he is playing in his shed. He’s not letting it all get to him. He looked a wee bit nervous in the first set against Cross last night but he turned it around. He has some future ahead of him!!
Defo will. Watching top athletes go head to head is always a joy to behold
Oh darts – the poor persons golf – no thanks.
@Rafa C: been a darts fan all my life. Would rather watch any darts match over a golf major any day of the week.
@Rafa C:
Well there’s a comparison that makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever..
@Rafa C: no score
I can’t, I’m only 3 but look 12
The darts beats the hell out of Gaelic Football. It has skill and about the same level of physical contact.
Hmmm…obese drunk white men throwing things at walls… No think.
@Chris O’Brien: no think?
@Brian Dunne: him no think. Him not know nothing.
@Chris O’Brien: guarantee you’re all of these things eh ;-)
@Chris O’Brien: brain no work so good
have your say