Ep 637: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Rena Kesten P4 on hmTv

Send us Fan MailIn the concluding episode of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Richard Acritelli continues his powerful conversation with Rena Kesten about the extraordinary life and legacy of her grandfather, Colonel Sekunda, a Jewish armored commander in the Soviet Army during World War II.Rena reflects on her grandfather’s postwar military service in Germany, his return to Ukraine, and the emotional scars he carried after years of combat. Although his soldiers affectionately called him “Father” and he helped lead Soviet forces from the Eastern Front into Berlin, antisemitism prevented him from receiving the full recognition he deserved.The conversation examines the economic chaos and political repression of postwar Soviet life, the erasure of Jewish military contributions, and the dangerous myth that Jews did not fight against Nazi Germany. Rena also shares her efforts to bring her grandfather’s rare photographs and remarkable story into classrooms, museums, and the broader historical record.Through family memories, preserved artifacts, and firsthand reflections on communism, immigration, and the American dream, this episode honors a courageous officer whose leadership helped defeat the Third Reich and whose story deserves a permanent place in history.Support the show