Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp

A week after visiting Dachau, we made our way to Krakow, Poland and spent an afternoon at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.  Perhaps the most famous of the camps, this experience was even more powerful than Dachau.  First, Auschwitz-Birkenau is much, much larger and the scale of things is therefore even more real.  Additionally, many of the items the Jewish people brought with them were found after the camp was seized.  The curators of the Auschwitz museum have turned these personal items into an incredible museum.  Seeing these items (suitcases, shoes, glasses seen below) brings a human connection to the experience and gives you a visual perspective on the vast numbers of people killed at the concentration camps.  Perhaps the most harrowing part was viewing a room (yes a large room) full from floor to about 3 feet high of human hair.  This was not allowed to be photographed out of respect to those who died.  Again, I leave this mostly uncommented as the pictures do speak for themselves.

Gas Canisters from Gas Chamber

Kitchen items brought by Jewish people

Guard stand where morning roll call occurred.

Gas Chamber

Birkenau Camp - this is where the majority of people lived and died and is a few kilometers from the main camp Auschwitz.

The living conditions were much more sparse here.

There were often 2-3 people in each bed as there wasn't enough space for everyone.

Bathroom

Entrance gate

Dachau Concentration Camp

The entrance gate as seen by the incoming prisoners Arbeit Macht Frei = Work will set you free. (above the door)
Of course this was all part of the Nazi propaganda.

Perhaps the most influential parts of my travels this past year included visiting two different Nazi concentration camps within weeks of each other.  In August, I visited both Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich, Germany and Auschwitz-Birkenau near Krakow, Poland.  I have always been intrigued and curious by the concentrations camps and World War II even as a kid.  Perhaps it was knowing my father grew up in Germany during the war - he was born at the end of WWII.  Additionally, my mother's family also comes from Germany and also had family who lived near Dachau.  I was always interested in understanding how something so horrible could continue for so long.  As I learned more, I understood better the propaganda the Nazis perpetuated and kept many German citizens and the world at bay to what was really occurring on these so called "work camps."

Prisoners

The museum is in the former building where prisoners first came  to be processed into the camp.
Rauchen verboten (smoking prohibited) is original from when camp was in use.

An interesting map of where prisoners came from.

A torture bench in the museum.

Visiting a concentration camp is a truly humbling and powerful experience.  At times, there are not words to describe how you feel.  Thinking about the millions of people who lived and died in these camps brings one to tears.  Remembering that injustices just like this continue to happen around the world also brings one to tears.  There are several signs and memorials at the concentration camps that say "Never forget"  or "Never Again."  When will we figure out a way to stop hating and find peace in this world?  We all have a voice and the power of our own actions to make a difference.  I truly believe that the first step is simply acknowledging the pain and vowing to not perpetuate it, and then finding your own way to fight against injustice.

I spent most of my time at Dachau in silence, contemplating all that occurred in this horrific place.  I will leave the last pictures mostly un-commented as they speak for themselves.

This picture and the next two are inside the gas chamber.  Overwhelming sadness and remembrance came over me when I walked into this room.  Thinking of the thousands who died in this place, it was almost difficult to take pictures.  But I feel so strongly that everyone should experience this and truly see what was done (we all heard the stories, but to be there is very different), and so this is my way of sharing the experience and commemorating the lives lost here.