Intelligence Squared The Crimes of History, with Linda Kinstler and Peter Pomerantsev
May 30, 2022
Linda Kinstler, an American journalist and author of "Come to This Court and Cry," delves into her family's dark past involving her grandfather's role in the Holocaust. In conversation with Peter Pomerantsev, they explore tough questions about historical accountability and the nature of memory. The discussion extends to the cyclical nature of conflict, with parallels drawn to Russia's current war on Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of remembrance and justice in addressing historical atrocities.
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Boris's Disappearance
- Linda Kinstler's grandfather, Boris, disappeared after their wedding in 1949.
- He was suspected of collaborating with the Nazis in Latvia during WWII.
A Tangled Inheritance
- Kinstler's family history includes both victims and perpetrators of the Holocaust.
- Her mother's family were Ukrainian Jews, some of whom perished at Babyn Yar.
The Cukurs Investigation
- Kinstler's research began with Herbert Cukurs, a Latvian Nazi collaborator known as the "Butcher of Riga".
- She discovered an ongoing investigation into Cukurs, despite his assassination by Mossad in 1965.
