It doesn't seem possible to write anything meaningful about our visit to Auschwitz today. It was cloudy and drizzly the whole day, which was fitting to the somber mood. We're both glad that we went; it was an intense, 4 hour guided tour of both Auschwitz (the original camp, relatively small) and
Birkenau (simply huge, and a few km away).
The famous gate - this is still a replica up since the original was stolen and cut in parts a few months ago. It was found and is being repaired. Notice that the "B" was allegedly put in upside down as an act of defiance by the prisoners forced to make the sign.
Execution wall in between two cell blocks
Main square in Auschwitz, where prisoners were made to stand and be counted, for up to 18 hours straight. Gallows for public hanging were just to the right of the little guard shelter.
train tracks leading directly to the selection platform at
Birkenau
Looking back towards the entrance,
Birkenau. At one point up to 10,000 people were brought here each day, of which 8,000 were immediately taken to the 5 gas chambers.
Original barracks and beds, made according to German cavalry stable blue prints to hold approximately 50 horses. These housed up to 700 prisoners each.
Ruins of prisoner barracks,
Birkenau (each chimney was a building)
One of the gas chambers at
Birkenau. The Nazis dynamited it as the Red Army closed in and they were evacuating the camp, and the memorial commission decided to leave it just as it is.
The famous gate - this is still a replica up since the original was stolen and cut in parts a few months ago. It was found and is being repaired. Notice that the "B" was allegedly put in upside down as an act of defiance by the prisoners forced to make the sign.
Execution wall in between two cell blocks
Main square in Auschwitz, where prisoners were made to stand and be counted, for up to 18 hours straight. Gallows for public hanging were just to the right of the little guard shelter.
train tracks leading directly to the selection platform at Birkenau
Looking back towards the entrance, Birkenau. At one point up to 10,000 people were brought here each day, of which 8,000 were immediately taken to the 5 gas chambers.
Original barracks and beds, made according to German cavalry stable blue prints to hold approximately 50 horses. These housed up to 700 prisoners each.
Ruins of prisoner barracks, Birkenau (each chimney was a building)
One of the gas chambers at Birkenau. The Nazis dynamited it as the Red Army closed in and they were evacuating the camp, and the memorial commission decided to leave it just as it is.
3 comments:
What a vivid and terrible memorial. I felt emotional just looking at the pictures and imagining you both there. Can't quite wrap my head around what it would feel like to be there in person.
I've just finally caught up with your blog posts. What an amazing trip! Perhaps your best one yet. Thanks for sharing.
Wow- I have always wanted to experience this place, however hard it would be. Very emotional to think about.
Post a Comment