Ep 636: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Rena Kesten P3 on hmTv

Send us Fan MailIn Part 3 of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with Rena Kesten through a remarkable collection of photographs documenting her grandfather’s service as a Jewish Soviet tank commander during the final Battle of Berlin.The images reveal destroyed streets, armored units, Soviet officers planning attacks, damaged German tanks, soldiers moving through trenches, and Rena’s grandfather standing beside the tanks he commanded. Rena also shares how he survived the war without being wounded, developed strong relationships with senior commanders, and used courage, discipline, and even music to reassure the soldiers under his command.The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as Rena explains how her grandfather helped evacuate military families ahead of the German invasion of Ukraine. His decision saved numerous women and children, while relatives who remained behind were murdered at Babi Yar.The episode also explores the aftermath of victory, the rapid shift from wartime alliance to Cold War suspicion, Soviet antisemitism, and the photograph of Rena’s grandfather with American soldiers that he was forced to remove from the family album to protect himself.Through rare artifacts and family testimony, this episode preserves the story of a courageous Jewish officer whose leadership helped defeat Nazi Germany and save lives both on and beyond the battlefield.Support the show