Talk:Armin D. Lehmann

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Armin Lehmann is one of only two survivors who were in Hitler's bunker at the end of World War II.

[edit] Advocate For Peace

I had the great privilege last year of directing Armin Lehmann's documentary film, Eyewitness To History. At 17 years old, after learning of both the Holocaust and Hitler's betrayal of an entire generation of German youth, Armin abandoned everything he had been taught as a child and dedicated the rest of his life to peacemaking.

In the film, Armin mentions that there is no place in the world for brutality. He makes it quite clear that being a bully doesn't equate to "manliness."

Many of the people close to Armin never really had an epiphany regarding Hitler. His father, a member of the SD in the Reich Propaganda Ministry, never did; nor did his mentor Artur Axmann. In the period immediately following the war, Axmann referred to Armin as his loyal courier. When Armin made it clear that he had totally rejected Naziism and all it stood for, Axmann (who remained in contact with Armin throughout his life) made a subtle change in wording. Armin became his brave courier.

Despite his childhood in hell, Armin Lehmann went on to meet with people from all walks of life, including Nehru and Schweitzer, carrying his message of peace and non-violence to whoever would listen.

His hope now is that, by telling his story, the children of today will enjoy a better future by learning from the past. In the words (paraphrased) of the philosopher Santayana, those who forget their history are condemned to re-live it.

Gary Lester 18:49, 13 May 2007 (UTC)Gary Lester —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bhfilms3 (talk • contribs) 12:22, 12 May 2007 (UTC).