The History Podcast: Half-Life Episode 8 – "A Polished Stone"

Release Date: May 14, 2025
Host: BBC Radio 4's Joe Dunthorne

Introduction

In Episode 8 of Half-Life, titled "A Polished Stone," Joe Dunthorne delves deeper into his family's complex and painful history intertwined with the dark chapters of the Dersim massacres in 1937-38. This episode explores themes of memory, responsibility, and the haunting legacy of historical atrocities.

Exploring Family History and Trauma

Joe begins by reflecting on his five-year quest to uncover his family's past, specifically their escape from Nazi Germany. During one of his final interviews with Belent Bilmez, a respected history professor from Istanbul, Joe grapples with the emotional toll of his discoveries.

Belent Bilmez discusses the pervasive and enduring nature of trauma within his generation:

"My generation was born into these stories in this trauma. It was everywhere." [00:06]

Joe admits his discomfort in openly addressing these painful truths:

"I remain a little scared to kind of openly talk about it because it feels, you know, how do I come to terms with that? I can't come to terms with that." [00:56]

The Dersim Massacre and Chemical Weapons

The conversation shifts to the Dersim massacres, where the Turkish state employed chemical weapons against the Dersim (Turs) people. Joe reveals his unsettling realization that his great-grandfather’s laboratory in Oranienburg, Germany, may have supplied the very mustard gas used in these atrocities.

Belent Bilmez elaborates on the generational impact of trauma and the difficulty in confronting such a legacy:

"It's an obsession, but obsessed engagement with that, you know, like you are so much in it... it's a trauma." [04:03]

Unveiling the Memorial Stone in Berlin

Joe and Belent journey to Kreuzberg, Berlin, to meet Kamal Karabalut, chairman of the Dersim Federation. They inspect the memorial stone—a fractured 3-ton sandstone boulder—intended to honor the victims of the Dersim massacres. However, the unveiling is overshadowed by Kamal’s urgent involvement in organizing protests against the arrest of Ekrem Imamulu, the mayor of Istanbul.

Kamal Karabalut explains the significance of the memorial:

"So now we go take a look at it. It's not completed because they were afraid that it wouldn't be released from Turkish customs." [08:34]

The stone symbolizes both remembrance and the fractured history tied to Joe’s family legacy.

The Connection to Joe Dunthorne's Great-Grandfather

A pivotal moment occurs when Kamal hints at the direct involvement of Joe's great-grandfather's company, Auer Gesellschaft, in supplying chemical weapons to Turkey.

Kamal Karabalut states:

"The gas was put into large trucks... And this building has in front of it like a small port. And then it was transported onto small ships." [17:34]

Joe's realization deepens:

"If the Turkish government had only ordered 20 tons, that was well within the production capabilities of my great grandfather's smaller laboratory in Oranienburg." [16:10]

This connection forces Joe to confront the possibility that his ancestor may have played a direct role in a historical tragedy.

Struggles for Accountability and Government Responsibility

The episode highlights the Dersim Federation’s efforts to hold the German government accountable for its role in supplying chemical weapons. Despite overwhelming evidence and testimonies, the German government has consistently deflected responsibility.

Belent Bilmez expresses frustration with Germany’s stance:

"Germany refuses to take its responsibility. The German government itself wants nothing to do with it. They're removing themselves from the equation." [12:37]

Joe discusses the obstacles in accessing archival materials and obtaining official recognition of Germany's involvement.

Emotional Impact and Reflections

Throughout the episode, Joe grapples with profound personal and ethical dilemmas. The potential implicity of his great-grandfather in the massacre weighs heavily on him, leading to moments of emotional vulnerability.

Joe Dunthorne reflects:

"I saw Kamal again the next day at the protest... The pieces I wanted to edit out were the bits I needed to keep." [26:31]

Professor Tanner Akcam underscores the moral imperative of remembrance:

"We are morally obligated to remember the victims, and to restore their human dignity." [21:03]

Joe concludes with a meditation on memory and the necessity of confronting uncomfortable histories to build a meaningful future.

Conclusion

"A Polished Stone" serves as a poignant exploration of how history and personal legacy intertwine, emphasizing the enduring impact of collective trauma. Through interviews, emotional introspection, and the symbolic unveiling of the memorial, Joe Dunthorne invites listeners to reflect on the responsibilities of remembering and acknowledging the past.

Notable Quotes:

• Belent Bilmez on generational trauma: "My generation was born into these stories in this trauma. It was everywhere." [00:06]

• Joe Dunthorne on confronting the past: "I remain a little scared to kind of openly talk about it because it feels, you know, how do I come to terms with that? I can't come to terms with that." [00:56]

• Kamal Karabalut on the memorial stone: "So now we go take a look at it. It's not completed because they were afraid that it wouldn't be released from Turkish customs." [08:34]

• Professor Tanner Akcam on moral obligation: "We are morally obligated to remember the victims, and to restore their human dignity." [21:03]

This episode of The History Podcast is based on Joe Dunthorne's book, Children of Radiance. Produced by Eleanor McDowell, mixed by Mike Woolley, with translations by Francesca Schweiger.