01/27/2025
It's Holocaust Memorial Day so I thought I'd share this horseshoe, which I found in the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. It was made by a Romani (gypsy) horseshoer from Slovakia named Kolomon Gabor. Many people do not realize that gypsies were annihilated by the N***s, along with Jews and others, but the N***s also knew that the horsemanship skills of the gypsies could be helpful to them.
The history of horses at Auschwitz is fascinating; there is a novel called Stable Boy of Auschwitz, if you'd like more insight. Much more chilling is the fake news that the camp spread: that their forges were working overtime, shoeing horses, and that burnt hooves were the source of the smoke and stench in the neighboring town.
Today I'd like to direct you to read one of the most popular articles on The Hoof Blog, from back in 2017. "The Blacksmith of Auschwitz" documents Jan Liwaz, the Polish blacksith who welded the sign over the entrance to the camp, and deliberately (or so it is assumed) welded in the B upside down.
Read all about it; you'll never forget Jan. He's on The Hoof Blog, and long may his brave story -- and Koloman's horseshoe -- live in history.
https://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2017/01/blacksmith-of-auschwitz-horse-hoof-smoke.html
