Ep 635: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Rena Kesten P2 on hmTv

Send us Fan MailIn Part 2 of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with Rena Kesten, exploring the remarkable military history of her grandfather, Colonel Sekunda, a Jewish armored commander in the Soviet Army during World War II.Rena recounts how her grandfather led his soldiers out of German encirclement during the opening days of Operation Barbarossa, survived the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, and rose from captain to colonel while commanding a tank brigade of approximately 60 tanks and 1,300 soldiers.The episode also examines the antisemitism he faced within the Soviet system. Despite being twice nominated for the prestigious Hero of the Soviet Union award, he was denied the honor because he was Jewish. Through rare military documents, photographs, and family artifacts, Rena reveals his role in the liberation of Belarus, the Soviet advance through Poland and Germany, and the final Battle of Berlin.This powerful conversation restores an overlooked Jewish military leader to the historical record while highlighting courage, leadership, sacrifice, and the importance of preserving family memory before it disappears.Support the show