Events/Courses - Event View

What history has never revealed is the story of thousands of Germans trapped inside the Third Reich who defied Hitler every way they could: they sent intel to the Allies, hid the hunted, joined the French resistance, encouraged deserters, and stopped roundups. The moral repugnance of fascism motivated them to risk their lives to save strangers, their civilized, cultured Germany, and the rest of the world. Their daring in the face of certain death, their willingness to honor their conscience and risk their lives for a more humane and peaceful world is a model for those of us now confronted by the onslaught of fascism everywhere. A book and film list for those who want to know more will be provided.

Instructor Sandy Garson was a recognized Maine journalist from 1973 to 1983 when she discovered the hidden history of Germans who fought Hitler inside his Reich and began working on this material. She went to Germany and met resistance survivors and found those who had emigrated from Germany to the United States. The book she was assembling was never published as few people in 1986 wanted to hear about Good Germans. People were reluctant to admit there were any. But in our troubled time, their courage and defiance resonate loudly, so she is sharing the untold story of  “the Other Germany.”

During her journalistic career, Sandy was also cooking on the side and by request opened a catering take-out business in 1985. When an orthopedic collapse forced her to quit, she studied Food History at Radcliffe College and has been a published food historian with two cookbooks and many articles since. She currently teaches “Food: The secret sauce of history” and, with her group The Savvy Palates, gives food knowledge talks all over southern Maine. For the 2024 Camden Conference on India she was invited to give talks on The Indian Kitchen: Crossroads of Cultures.