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Auschwitz – We Must Never Forget

9/10/2016

49 Comments

 
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​I would like to start off by saying this wasn’t an easy blog to write. The research I carried out to provide the introduction meant I had to read stories and look at sick photos telling horrific tales of torture and death that I would not usually choose to look at. In truth, this piece won’t make light reading either but, these atrocities must never happen again and the only way ensure it doesn’t, is to never forget. If this means we visit, be appalled, turn away at some of the horrors we see, then so be it.

​We need to ensure this never happens in our world again. Ever!

A brief history of Auschwitz. Known all around the world as a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust.

Under orders of the German Nazi Government leader Adolf Hitler, three main concentration camps were established during World War II near the Polish city of Oswiecim (Auschwitz in German), approximately 60km west of Krakow. Their sole purpose was to imprison and exterminate human beings. To be precise, all were Jews… but none the less, they were all humans.

Adolf Hitler personally ordered the mass extermination of the Jews. In the personal diary of Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda who served Hitler and helped spread the Nazi message, Goebbels wrote “With regards to the Jewish question, the Fuhrer decided to make a clean sweep …”

•  Auschwitz I opened May 1940 – it covered 40 square kilometres
•  3 September 1941 – the first set of gassings of 600 soviet prisoners of war 
•  Auschwitz II (also called Auschwitz-Birkenau) opened 1 March 1942 - solely built to kill the      prisoners
• Auschwitz III (also called Auschwitz-Monowitz) – construction began October 1942 but is       now an industrial park who make synthetic rubber and plastics there and still do to this day

​The sections were separated by barbed-wire fences and Auschwitz II had the largest prisoner population of any of the three main camps. In January 1942, the first chamber using lethal Zyklon B gas was built on the camp, however it was judged inadequate for killing on the scale the Nazis wanted so four further chambers were built. These were used for systematic genocide right up until November 1944, two months before the camp was liberated.
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Prisoners would step off the train and, upon their arrival, were separated into two groups – the line on the left were consider unfit for work and sent directly to their deaths. The line on the right were forced into slaved labour and were stripped naked, showered, their head and pubic hair shaved and their left arm tattooed. 

On 27 January 1945 Soviet soldiers entered the gates of the complex to close it down but the site had been evacuated by the Nazis just days earlier. 

The largest mass murder in a single location in human history was now over.

Around 7,000 prisoners were found alive and starving, but the Soviet troops found much more grisly evidence of the horrors that took place. Millions of items of clothing which once belonged to men, women and children were discovered along with 6,350kg of human hair. The Auschwitz museum holds more than 100,000 pairs of shoes, 12,000 kitchen utensils, 3,800 suitcases and 350 striped camp garments. Sadly, this is not the limit of the horrors. It was also the site of disturbing medical experimentation on the prisoners which included castration, sterilisation and testing how they were affected by contagious diseases. The infamous “Angel of Death”, SS captain Dr Josef Mengele was one of the physicians practising here. His particular interest was experimenting on twins.
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We will never know exact numbers, however according to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, at least 960,000 of the 1.3 million Jews deported to the camp were killed. Other victims included approximately 74,000 Poles, 21,000 Roma, 15,000 Soviet prisoners of war and at least 10,000 from other nationalities.
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Reconstruction of the "Black Wall" or "Death Wall" where prisoners were shot and executed. Today, visitors leave flowers as a mark of respect

​An interview with some of my friend’s detailing their Auschwitz experiences


I haven’t yet had a chance to visit Auschwitz so I reached out to a few people whom I know have been. I wanted to compare their experiences by asking the same set of questions.

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Helen’s visit

Hello Helen, and thank you for agreeing to talk to me about your visit to Auschwitz.
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How many years ago did you visit Auschwitz?

8 years ago, I visited in 2008

What was your reason for wanting to visit?
I felt it was somewhere our generation should all visit. Acknowledging the atrocities that happened there is important to prevent the same ever happening again.

Just a couple of questions to help paint a picture of the day. What was the weather like and do you think this had an effect on your mood and the whole ambience?

I had just been on a great girlie weekend in Krakow. The others had flown back to the UK that morning and my flight home to Germany wasn’t until the evening so I decided to go on an organised trip. I did feel the irony of standing on the side of the road with my suitcase waiting to go to Auschwitz.

The sun was out that day and it was very hard to imagine the bleakness of the place.
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The railway track to the main entrance of Auschwitz

​Were you part of a tour or self-guided?
English guided tour.

Were there many people around or were you alone at any time for the experience? 

There were a lot of people visiting that day although you could still find quiet areas for reflection.
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As you were walking around, can you recall what thoughts you were having?
I was trying to put the scale of atrocities into proportion. They believe one and a half million people were murdered on this site. I was trying to understand the scale of it. I was also trying to comprehend how any normal person could have become a killer.
 

​Did you go to both Auschwitz 1 the museum & Birkenau, the camp? 
I think I went to both. The camp has the most striking memories though.

Can you describe your first impressions as you walked up to the entrance and in through the gates?
I actually had a sense of nervousness as I went through the gates. The place was bustling and it was hard to imagine what the prisoners would have been thinking as their train pulled in.

Was there something you experienced in particular that shocked you the most? What made this the most shocking out of everything?
The most shocking image for me was the hair that had been cut off bodies and piled up. There was so much of it. Also the piles of suitcases with people’s names on them. It just made it all seem real rather than just stories and numbers.

Did you take any photographs? 
Yes I did
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When you walked away, what were you feeling and what lasting impression was left with you.
I remember feeling sad. I was shocked how the Nazis could treat human beings like animals or worse. However I was glad I had gone. 

I had previously visited a couple of concentration camps in Germany where I lived but the difference here was the scale of atrocities. The Nazis, with their usual German efficiency had planned and carried out extermination of a race of people. 

Do you have any advice to pass onto others who wish to visit?
I would recommend a guided tour. The stories we heard were incredible. I would also recommend having a bit of extra time to walk back around and reflect. ​​

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​Justin’s visit

How many years ago did you visit Auschwitz?
I visited Auschwitz in December, 2013

What was your reason for wanting to visit?
It was part of a tour package. And, before I went, I had thought it would be ‘interesting’ to visit, but I never really had a drive to go visit a prisoner of war camp.

Just a couple of questions to help paint a picture of the day. What was the weather like and do you think this had an effect on your mood and the whole ambience?
It was a clear and cool December day. Very few clouds and the sun shone brightly. There were also touches of snow hidden in some of the shadows surrounding both Auschwitz and Birkenau. 
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This Reads: "FOR EVER LET THIS PLACE BE A CRY OF DESPAIR AND A WARNING TO HUMANITY, WHERE THE NAZIS MURDERED ABOUT ONE AND A HALF MILLION MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, MAINLY JEWS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES OF EUROPE."

Were you part of a tour or self-guided?
Oddly enough, I was part of a “party-tour”. That’s not an official classification for this tour as it was a good mix between experiencing history and nightlife in each of the stops. It was a Christmas/New Year’s tour through Eastern Europe with Busabout.

Were there many people around or were you alone at any time for the experience? 
I wouldn’t say there were “many people” compared to most touristic sites out there, but there wasn’t ever a point when our group was alone, never mind being alone by ourselves. There were a few other tours and a few small groups of visitors.

Did you go to both Auschwitz 1 the museum & Birkenau, the camp? 

We visited Birkenau first because other tour buses had pulled in to Auschwitz before we had arrived, and we were trying to avoid the crowds. I believe we were there for around 3-4 hours.
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Birkenau. It was built to kill people. It had the capacity to work as a 'work camp'...but as soon as the maximum number of people were met, the new arrivals were killed within 2 hours of their arrival.
PictureThe main gates of Birkenau
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​Can you describe your first impressions as you walked up to the entrance and in through the gates?

I think it’s important to explain something about the tour I was on and the important role the tour guide played in introducing us to Auschwitz and Birkenau. After partying with the same group of people for almost a week straight, hitting Prague, Vienna and Budapest, we were about to stop in Auschwitz before heading on to Krakow.

Our tour guide did an excellent job of easing us in to, what was about to be, a rather brutal change in atmosphere. I mostly just remember him saying that everyone is going to react and experience Auschwitz differently and that it’s important to respect others both during and after our visit. All goofing-around and immaturity vanished after that point.
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​So, when we got off the bus and walked towards the gate in Birkenau, I was already in a sombre sort of mood. Then, when I saw the main gates of Birkenau, I recalled every documentary I watched in high school about the war camps and the looming brick gate with the portal, large enough for a railway car to fit through. I already knew what I was going to learn once inside. I was just a little surprised by the emotions.

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The main gate of Auschwitz with the inscription “Arbeit macht frei“ or “Work brings freedom”
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These railcars were packed with people. When prisoners were loaded onto them, they were told to take only the belongings they needed, they were then sealed within. No windows, no stops, no toilet breaks. The raillcars were not opened until they arrived at Auschwitz.

​As you were walking around, can you recall what thoughts you were having?
They were mixed emotions to be sure. On one hand, we studied World War 2 and the Holocaust in High School, but that was more about numbers of victims and an attempt to imagine the horrors. So, I was already sort-of desensitized to the history and horrible stories of the war camps. There were a few “oh my God” moments, when standing in the gas chamber for example, or seeing the actual ‘ovens’ for the first time.
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Gas chamber facility

​Was there something you experienced in particular that shocked you the most? Why was this the most shocking out of everything?
After hearing the stories and seeing where the prisoners were kept in Birkenau, the whole desensitization had really set in for me. Auschwitz looked more how I had seen in movies about the prisoner of war camps, so it started off as more interesting, than shocking.  It wasn’t until we walked in to the museum at Auschwitz when the reality of all the stories really hit me. There are a few rooms in the museum which have a fraction of the ‘remains’ of the victims of these death camps. In one room it was a massive pile of shoes, in another, it was piles of suitcases with people’s names written on them, another room had the victim’s prosthetic limbs ...but there was one room which really shocked and truly disgusted me: the room with the hair. This room had a massive pile of women’s hair that had been shaved from their heads before they had been gassed. It really turned my stomach…it was so horrible that I had to look away.
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Did you take any photographs?
I took quite a few photos of both camps. I like to think that I took the photos for my friends back home in Canada who would likely never make it over to see this place. In reality though, I took the photos more to remind myself. I just looked through these photos again so that I might answer your questions a little better — and it really is surprising how quickly all these emotions came flooding back!

When you walked away, what were you feeling and what lasting impression was left with you?
I do remember being on the bus heading to Krakow, trying to process everything I had just seen and heard. During that quiet moment, I realized that a bus full of party-people had all been stunned in to silence by the horrors of Auschwitz. It was at that moment that I was “glad” I went to Auschwitz; it’s very important to “experience” history as best we can. “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

Do you have any advice to pass onto others who wish to visit?
A bit of travel guide advice: if you arrive and there are half-a-dozen tour busses pulling in ahead of you, definitely go to the nearby coffee-shop/place to eat. The last thing you want is for crowds of people to take away from your experience there.

As for advice about emotions: definitely give yourself and your travelling companions some time afterwards to reflect on what you have seen. Our tour guide had said to us beforehand that everyone is going to have a different reaction to what they will experience at Auschwitz. Be very respectful to this process in others as Auschwitz is a place that will change all of you.
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Photos of Auschwitz inmates hang on the wall at the former concentration camp which is now a museum

​Paul’s visit


How many years ago did you visit Auschwitz? 
December 2012, so 3.5 years ago. 
 
What was your reason for wanting to visit? 
I was on a one week city break in Kraków 
 
Just a couple of questions to help paint a picture of the day. What was the weather like and do you think this had an effect on your mood and the whole ambience? 
The weather was clear and sunny, temperature around -5 during the day, dropping to -15 at night. There was a covering of snow, walkways were an inch or so, and the surrounding areas had up to a foot. Being VERY cold definitely added the angle of what it must have been like in the dead of winter. 

Were you part of a tour or self-guided? 

Our hotel organised transport there, then on arrival we joined a tour group. All visitors that were part of a tour group wore headsets, which seemed odd at first, but as the tour progressed it became quite clear as to the reason. I thought was very well orchestrated. 
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Pope Francis praying at Auschwitz, July 2016

Were there many people around or were you alone at any time for the experience? 
There were plenty of areas where you could be alone, but inside the buildings and museum areas it was very busy, but not so busy that is was claustrophobic. The guides were very good at making sure areas weren’t clogged. Having headsets meant you could just concentrate on the tour guide’s voice and I found this gave me a very personal experience, even though our group numbered 20+ people, to me, it felt one-to-one. 
 
Did you go to both Auschwitz 1 the museum & Birkenau, the camp? 
Auschwitz first, then Birkenau. We were there around three hours, it was plenty of time. We could have spent longer there, but had transport arranged to take us back to Kraków. 
 
Can you describe your first impressions as you walked up to the entrance and in through the gates? 
A feeling of disbelief that I was actually going to walk under the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign. Many hundreds of thousands of people took those same steps to their deaths. Quite surreal. 
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​As you were walking around, can you recall what thoughts you were having? 
Very sad thoughts, despite all the pictures, and stories, it’s so hard to comprehend what went on there. To this day, I still can’t get my head around it. To some extent, for the SS guards, it must have become normal, they must have been numb to the deaths. The smell, yuck, I guess some dealt with it by choosing to ignore what was going on. It’s interesting because rather than think about the poor souls who were sent to their deaths, or worse experimented on, my thoughts were primarily around, how, why, can so many humans do this to so many other humans. 
 
Was there something you experienced in particular that shocked you the most? What made this the most shocking out of everything?
The gas chambers, so distressing, jaw dropping, a conveyor belt to death. 
 
Did you take any photographs? 
No, and I don’t recall that many people were. I can’t remember if there was a no photograph rule, but that would make sense.
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When you walked away, what were you feeling and what lasting impression was left with you?

My thoughts in general were disbelief, and as we drove back to Kraków, I wondered if it was possible for every single human being on this planet now, and in the future, to visit this place. You can read, look at photos, and watch film, but it doesn’t come close to being there. There were four of us on this trip, close friends for 10+ years and I recall how quiet the journey back to Kraków was. We were all deep in thought, reflecting on what we just witnessed, other than small talk like, “oh my, how terrible was that”. We didn’t really talk about it. 
  
Do you have any advice to pass onto others who wish to visit? 
Definitely join a tour group, be brave, take it all in, listen carefully, don’t rush and allow plenty of time. If you can, whilst you are there, find the time to be alone and allow your mind to process the information. 
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Quote by Hans Frank - one of Hitler's top Lieutenants

David’s visit (from Travelswhere)


How many years ago did you visit Auschwitz?

I actually just visited Auschwitz Birkenau this September (2016), as part of my travels throughout Poland.

What was your reason for wanting to visit?
I don’t really have any strong personal connection to the place. I wanted to visit the place where an incredibly important historical moment happened and try to understand/comprehend what the people went through and how they may have felt. Having talked to friends who had visited Krakow, they had said it was something you absolutely shouldn’t miss. I almost felt obliged to visit.
 
Just a couple of questions to help paint a picture of the day. What was the weather like and do you think this had an effect on your mood and the whole ambience?
The weather all day was warm with bright, sunny skies. Talking with another person on my tour we both agreed that it contrasted with the sombre tone of our visit, probably better reflected in winter. Bitter cold, wind and thick mud felt more appropriate than cheerful blue skies, especially considering how many of the transports arrived during winter.
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Prisoners would endure a "selection" process upon arrival. Some were deemed fit for work, others were immediately condemned to death

Were you part of a tour or self-guided?
I joined a guided tour from Krakow that took the group through Auschwitz main camp and the Birkenau camp. I think having a guide not only informed us, but having them take us through helped give direction to our visit, ensuring we saw the important sections.

Were there many people around or were you alone at any time for the experience? 
At both camps, there were several other tour groups passing through at the same time as ours. This caused some parts to feel a little rushed and busy, but I never felt like we “missed” something because of the crowds. I do think that having fewer people about may have come with a feeling of isolation and a reminder of the number of lives lost.

Did you go to both Auschwitz 1 & 2 (Birkenau)? And if so, in which order did you see them i.e the camp first then the museum or vice versa?
Our visit started with a guided tour of the “museum” at Auschwitz 1 and then we were taken to Birkenau for our second guided visit.
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Auschwitz is the only camp to have tattooed it's prisoners. Metal stamps were used to imprint indentification numbers onto the skin then ink was rubbed into the wound

(If you did both camps) It’s a very large site, do you remember how long you were there for in total?
We arrived at Auschwitz 1 from Krakow at about 10am and spent close to 2 hours there. Afterwards we had a short break, before driving over to Birkenau, where we spent about 1.5hours. We left to return to Krakow around 2.15pm.

Can you describe your first impressions as you walked up to the entrance and in through the gates?
As we had watched an informative video on the bus there, I felt a bit prepared for that first arrival, but it still felt like a bit of shallow museum at first, even as I stood at the gates. I think I looked at the gates in a different way when I left. Part of the reason for my bland first reaction was that I was surprised at how well maintained the place looked. I thought a place of such misery would have surely been destroyed.  

As you were walking around, can you recall what thoughts you were having?
Walking about, there were a lot of things going through my mind, naturally. A lot of them concerned what it must have been like for those that were sent to the camps and to keep paying attention despite how upsetting the subject matter. But my thoughts did also jump to things like what the locals would have thought or known about the place, or that the Nazi soldiers must have felt some sort of shame for them to try and bury the evidence of their crimes under rubble. I think a big part of visiting Auschwitz is the thoughts and questions that it raises in you.
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Was there something you experienced in particular that shocked you the most? Why was this the most shocking out of everything?
I think there are two places where I most felt my surroundings. The first was the room of hair, where piles and piles of shorn hair from those imprisoned is exhibited. This put a distinctly human touch on what we were seeing in the museum. The place that really shocked me though, was the reconstructed Gas Chamber. The idea that we were walking through a place where thousands of people had been murdered was almost too much to properly process.

Did you take any photographs?
I did take photos for the most part. At some times it was just as a reminder of what things looked like. Other times, it was because certain parts actually looked quite pretty, such as the brick buildings and summery trees of the museum. The only time I didn’t feel right taking photos was during the walk through of the reconstructed gas chamber. It just didn’t feel personally appropriate.

When you walked away, what were you feeling and what lasting impression was left with you?
Honestly, I felt drained. Just emotionally drained after hearing about death, suffering and pointless misery for hours on end. I came away from the visit with a better appreciation of the sheer scale of the operation at Auschwitz Birkenau and the seemingly endless cruelties the prisoners suffered. Despite it all, I was thankful that I had visited.

Do you have any advice to pass onto others who wish to visit?

If you’re visiting Krakow, go. As heavy as the content is emotionally, you will learn quite a bit and come to appreciate the sites. Also, by going you help keep the site open as a reminder of one of the world’s worst crimes. I would recommend taking a fully guided tour, rather than just getting transport, as you’ll better understand and appreciate what you are seeing. Lastly, it may sound cheesy, but watch Schindler’s List. People will make reference to it and Birkenau was actually used in the movie, so it will give a little context to the day.
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​Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, we know it isn’t an easy one to read – but it is very important. As per the quote from Edmund Burke - “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

​If you have been affected by this interview and would like to participate in ensuring these atrocities never happen again, please click onto one of the following websites.

The Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation
Holocaust Educational Trust

The National Holocaust Centre and Museum

Please Pin & Share this post,
​so the world may learn from these atrocities. 
Auschwitz - home to the world's worst genocide. Read this compelling interview with travellers to hear their story. We must never forget.
49 Comments
Geoff
11/10/2016 12:05:25 pm

Have a read of Viktor Frankl on how some overcame the horrors and a perspective of how it can help people even now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man's_Search_for_Meaning

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:15:08 pm

Thank you Geoff for sharing this information, visitors will appreciate this!

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Tami link
12/10/2016 05:11:22 am

I haven't been to Auschwitz, but I've visited Buchenwald in Germany. It was a similarly difficult thing to do and to see. But I wrote about it on my blog as well, because the story has to be kept alive. Shocking, really, that this could have ever happened!

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:16:24 pm

I'm glad you wrote a blog on your visit to Buchenwald, as you said, this story does need to be kept alive regardless of which POW camp it is, it's all the same. I cannot believe this was allowed to happen either, let us pray it never happens again!

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Allison link
12/10/2016 12:08:41 pm

I haven't been to Auschwitz but I have been to Dachau in Germany. I'd like to visit Auschwitz because I think it's an important part of world history. I remember feeling a special feeling in Dachau- one I haven't felt anywhere else. I can't really explain it but it was part sadness but also a feeling like it was a sacred place because of all the people that gave their lives. #wanderfulwednesday

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:17:59 pm

I also want to visit Auschwitz for the same reason as you; it's an important part of world history and one that shaped how we are today. I feel by visiting, we are showing respect for the people who lost their lives and letting them know we do not support this so yes, a sacred place indeed.

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Katrina link
12/10/2016 03:21:27 pm

Thank you for writing and posting this. It's not easy material to read, but we must NOT forget! AND we must be cognizant of these atrocities occurring today in various parts of the world.

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:19:11 pm

Thank you for your comments Katrina, I appreciate it and no, it's not easy to read (or write) but we cannot let history repeat itself and we must be mindful of what happened in the past. We cannot bury our heads in the sand, eyes need to be open to stop it happening again.

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Mandy link
12/10/2016 04:09:34 pm

Thanks for sharing these stories. I'd love to go at some point. I feel like visiting the camps would make WW2 and the Holocaust feel more "real". What I think is most surprising is that everyone seems overwhelmed by the piles of human hair in one of the rooms at the museum. As for me, I can't even imagine what seeing that must feel like. Definitely an intense place to visit and a stark reminder of our past, but a worthy reminder as well. #wanderfulWednesday

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:20:38 pm

I agree Mandy, visiting would make what happened more "real" because right now, neither you nor I lived during that time but it's something we are taught at school. I found it fascinating that everyone was horrified by the same thing, and that's why I purposely asked the same questions to see if there was a trend. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

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Van @ Snow in Tromso link
12/10/2016 04:37:06 pm

I haven't been to Auschwitz but I went to Terezin near Prague on a school excursion. Terezin was a working camp so they didn't have gas chambers there but what I saw there was already enough to give me the creeps. The living quarters were absolutely inhumane and everything about the place just felt wrong. Also, it was a really sunny and nice day and it felt so ironic, like how could the sun shine over such a horrible place? It's so difficult to put into words...

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:25:56 pm

Thank you for sharing your experience of Terezin with us, it must be difficult to have been there then read this post as a comparison. I haven't shown a picture of the living quarters at Auschwitz but yes, they were inhumane - wooden bunk beds, people sleeping on cold concrete floors and open crevices in freezing cold conditions, apparently the buildings were meant for horses! I wanted to ask the question about the weather to set the scene - it's almost like you feel you should be there when it's bleak as a reflection of the place you are visiting.

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Ashley @ The Wandering Weekenders link
12/10/2016 05:09:01 pm

This is such a powerful post, and one that I hope lots of people will read so that we may never forget what happened. I still can't wrap my head around how evil other human beings will be, and obviously after visiting the actual site it's still hard. Thank you for taking the time to research and write this post.

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:27:59 pm

Thank you for comments Ashley, I am pleased I have been able to convey the message in a way that makes people want others to read in order that we can not let this be forgotten, or happen again! I struggle to think how people can be this evil to others; I know they were "doing their jobs" maybe it was for fear of what would happen to them if they disobeyed orders but what a way to live your life knowing what you had done!

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Ruth link
13/10/2016 04:43:33 am

I went to Auschwitz less than two months ago. It is difficult to understand how a place like that existed. For what I learned on site, not only Jews were deported to the camp. The Nazis deported Poles, Roma, Soviets and other prisoners of war. As a matter of fact, the place was started to hold Pole prisoners.

My visit to Auschwitz got me thinking a lot. You used this quote at the end of the post: “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” The quote was in the camp too. I think posts like this and recounting personal stories after visiting help others to understand what happened and how it happened. I do think history has repeated (not in the same scale, of course but many people have been killed in massacres and genocide after the Nazis).

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:30:32 pm

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Ruth, we appreciate it. In my research, I read that it wasn't just Jews but other POW, all humans nonetheless and incredible that these people were "picked on". I am also fearful that history has repeated itself in some countries but obviously not to this scale and it's kept under wraps, it's scary really isn't it how this can happen to some degree again.

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Lauren link
13/10/2016 10:40:18 am

I have to admit I only skimmed this post. Posts like this are always extremely jard to read as a lot of my family was killed during the Holocaust. Some of them even died at Auschwitz, my grandfather's brother being one of them. I agree that places like this are so hard to see, but also so important to see. Things like this are still happening in parts of the world and its so important that we remember the horrors to better our future!

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FeetDoTravel
13/10/2016 01:33:49 pm

Thank you Lauren for your honesty, we very much appreciate and totally understand that you may not want to read the nitty gritty but we thank you all the same for taking the time to have a look. We purposely didn't choose horrific images (of which there are many!) from the past as we didn't want this to be a visual horror story, we wanted it to be a way of informing people that we shouldn't let these atrocities be forgotten. I am so sorry to hear about your family, so it's no wonder this was particularly difficult for you, that makes it even more amazing that you visited this post and commented so for that, again, we thank you. We hope you appreciate the message we are trying to send and that we do it as a mark of respect for people like your family x

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Kreete link
14/10/2016 11:41:54 am

Indeed a very tough read and I can tell you have put a lot of thought and effort into it! My partner actually visited Auschwitz a little over a year ago and when I asked about it, he had a hard time putting it into words. Great to read other people's opinions and thoughts about the place too and I agree with Justin saying “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

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FeetDoTravel
14/10/2016 01:54:36 pm

That's interesting what you say about your partner visiting, maybe now you have read this post you can get a bit more of an insight into what he experienced which may explain why it was difficult for him, and that's what this article was meant to do - give an insight into what it's like for people who haven't been there through others' opinions. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, we appreciate what you have said :-)

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Kelly Turpin link
14/10/2016 12:41:30 pm

I haven't been to Auschwitz - but I have visited Cambodia's Killing Fields where the deranged Pol Pot ordered horrific killings. I agree with you Angie, these type of places are not a pleasure to visit but it is something we need to do so that these types of atrocities will be remembered and hopefully one day brutal acts such as these will never occur again.

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FeetDoTravel
14/10/2016 01:56:47 pm

I have heard that Cambodia's Killing Fields are a place people should visit although it won't be easy. We will be in Cambodia next year so will experience that firsthand and yes, you are right, they aren't nice, and we have to do what we can to stop these brutal acts re-occurring.

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Emily @ Out and About link
14/10/2016 01:08:05 pm

I haven't been to Auschwitz, but I visited the Great Synagogue in Budapest which includes several mass gravesites from the Holocaust. The synagogue is also next to some of the former Jewish ghettos from that era. I also visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, in Jerusalem. The stories of the Holocaust are horrifying and heartbreaking and it is truly impossible to comprehend their magnitude. I remember learning about them in history class as a child, but at that age it doesn't resonate. Seeing the pictures/memorials and reading the details as an adult, I was ready to pass out.

I've thought about whether Holocaust survivors would want to see places like Auschwitz torn down and destroyed - but absolutely it is so important to remember what happened. Thank you for writing this post. You clearly put forth an enormous amount of time and preparation, with a tremendous amount of attention to detail. It is absolutely true that those who don't know history are destined to repeated it.

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FeetDoTravel
14/10/2016 02:17:18 pm

I read the section in your recent blog post about the gravesites from the Holocaust so thank you for taking the time to read this article. It's interesting you mention about whether or not places like Auschwitz should be torn down as I literally had that conversation yesterday with a friend and as much as our heart wants to eradicate these horrors, the head says we should be reminded of how they suffered so we do not allow history to be repeated - but it's a tough one isn't it! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment in the way you have, thank you.

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Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler) link
14/10/2016 04:48:05 pm

Angie such a very good article on a terrible atrocity that was done at Auschwitz. This is something that everyone must read. I remember my time there and felt like the others shocked into silence at seeing the camp, shoes, gas chambers and more.
Liked the perspective of the people you interviewed who have visited. What affected me the most was the heavy and eerie feeling I had while there. Thank you for sharing.

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FeetDoTravel
14/10/2016 07:22:39 pm

Thank you Stephanie for your comments and yes, it is terrible but yes, we should all read, visit and never forget. It's interesting that you have visited and can identify their feelings with yours. I appreciate you taking the time to share your personal thoughts.

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Upeksha link
14/10/2016 08:36:46 pm

Thank you for writing this. It was hard to read, so I can imagine how difficult to write it must be. I've not been to any of the Word War II camps, but after reading this, I will make a point to go, when I get the chance. #theweeklypostcard

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FeetDoTravel
16/10/2016 04:17:44 pm

These posts are hard to read but I appreciate you persevering and commenting. I'm also glad to hear you will make a point of going, this makes me feel that I have done some good writing this, if a writer like me can do that, it's humbling so thank you.

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Anisa link
14/10/2016 10:07:16 pm

I have not been. I did read Jodi Piccoult's novel The Storyteller though which I found really difficult to read. I definitely agree with what you are saying though it is very important to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Thanks so much for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.

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FeetDoTravel
16/10/2016 04:15:32 pm

I haven't heard of that novel so just looked it, it sounds like an interesting story and if it does go into detail, I can imagine it would be difficult to read. All we can do is spread the message that these events shouldn't happen again. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, I appreciate it.

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David link
15/10/2016 09:34:52 am

Thank you for letting me contribute to this Angie. I think answering your questions helped me process the visit and really consider what I took away from the visit. Very interesting reading the others' experiences and seeing the similar feelings we had. This is indeed an important post and hope it gives people a little insight.

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FeetDoTravel
16/10/2016 04:10:42 pm

Thank you, David, for taking the time to share your thoughts with me, I know it must have been difficult but I am pleased that the process helped you. I was wondering how you would feel reading others' story and how they compared. Thanks again for taking time to talk to me and for commenting.

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Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute link
15/10/2016 01:09:14 pm

These are hard posts to write, and even harder places to visit. Still, we have to write them and we have to visit them. Auschwitz is a very haunting place and your post is very informative.

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FeetDoTravel
16/10/2016 04:07:04 pm

You are right Jim, these posts aren't the easiest, but it will be far harder to visit, however I do intend to one day as researching this post has made me want to ensure these atrocities never happen again even more than I did before. I'm pleased you found this information and thank you for taking the time to comment.

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Lisa link
15/10/2016 01:23:44 pm

Hi Angie... You did a fabulous job on this post and it needs to be said & shared over and over again lest we forget the horrors of the past. I have met survivors of the camps and I have every intention of visiting when I get the chance. Maybe hard to read but I am always moved and pray that people will remember.

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FeetDoTravel
16/10/2016 04:05:30 pm

Thank you Lisa, I appreciate your comment and I hope this message will be shared. I haven't met survivors, I can imagine that must be difficult .. but thank goodness they survived. Thanks again for taking the time to read this post.

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Jenn
16/10/2016 10:39:45 pm

Wow, this post is so powerful, informative and somber. I love the collaboration work you did on this. We hope to visit here one day. I'm sure it will be very hard. We visited the US Holocaust last year and it gave me serious anxiety. It is designed to have that effect on people and I can't imagine what Auschwitz must be like. Interestingly, in February, I had the opportunity to meet Amon Goeth's granddaughter and her story was very powerful.

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FeetDoTravel
19/10/2016 11:01:08 am

Thank you Jenn, yes it is a sombre topic but I am glad you have taken the time to read it and you are right, these places are designed for impact! That is fascinating you met Arnon Goeth's granddaughter, that must have been very moving!

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Sally-Ann Brown link
17/10/2016 01:00:25 am

Visiting one of the concentration camps from WWII is one of the most moving experiences I have had. It was over 25 years ago but I still remember the shiver I felt run through me as I walked into the gas chamber at Dachau - just outside Munich. The images on the walls of the experiments that were done on the prisoners was horrific.
It is so important that we still remember this today to ensure this NEVER happens again.

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FeetDoTravel
19/10/2016 11:02:40 am

I do find it surprising that people can remember their thoughts and feelings from these experiences even though it was some time ago, and from what you have said, you clearly identify with that. it is people like you who will ensure this will never happen again and I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, thank you.

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Garth link
17/10/2016 05:01:39 pm

I’ve never been to Auschwitz, but reading your post really took me there. Difficult, but it’s important we see places like Auschwitz and The Killing Fields, so we can learn and teach future generations of the past, so history never repeats itself. I can tell you’ve put a lot of effort into this post and it must have been hard to write, but reading everyones feelings and experience was quite moving.

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FeetDoTravel
19/10/2016 11:05:02 am

We intend to visit the Killing Fields next year so that will be a difficult time for us but nonetheless, we shouldn't shy away from historical horror stories and I hope the world will learn from past experiences. I found the answers rather moving as well and I am glad you felt the same, I feel I have gone some way to keeping this story going even if people haven't had a chance to visit.

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Joanna link
19/10/2016 09:17:37 am

I'm a Pole. I've been to Auschwitz a few years ago. Before that, I've been to Stutthof, also a Nazi concentration camp, just smaller in scale and much closer to the place where I live. I love the way you decided to present the place. First a short history and then the interviews. We have probably all seen movies, documentaries, pictures of the place. But reading about personal reactions to the scale of attrocities is a whole other story. Thank you for this post. (btw. it didn't feel right to me to take pictures around the concentration camps. And I've seen people posing for "stupid" pictures under the "Arbeit macht frei" sign...).

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FeetDoTravel
19/10/2016 11:11:29 am

Thank you Joanna for reading and commenting on this post, it must have been difficult for you and I really appreciate you taking the time for such a difficult story. Thank you also for sharing your personal experience with me, and I cannot believe that people would pose for "stupid" pictures by the sign, I am speechless.I will get to Auschwitz one day, and I will remember these memories and your story.

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Travel Lexx link
23/10/2016 07:18:55 pm

Not an easy read but very important to raise awareness of the horrors that happened during that time. I haven't yet made it to Auschwitz but I have been to another concentration camp and it was a very difficult experience. Thanks for sharing

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FeetDoTravel
24/10/2016 12:02:35 pm

Thank you for taking the time to read this difficult post, we appreciate it, and for your comment about your personal experience.

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Annalise link
11/3/2017 06:50:32 am

You're right, that really wasn't an easy read and I had no idea about the medical experimentation that went on. I'm still hoping that one day I'll be able to see it with my own eyes - at least now I know what I'm in for!

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Steffen Lohse link
21/5/2017 09:28:02 am

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I visited Auschwitz three times between 2012 and 2017 and my feelings were similar to yours. Most of visitors ‘know’ what took place here, but it is nearly impossible to understand. We have to realize the social and political conditions which legalized the most horrible crime in mankinds history.

Photographs of my Auschwitz visits:
http://stelofoto.de/auschwitz-oswiecim/?lang=en

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Georgia
24/1/2020 04:56:50 pm

Thank you for writing this piece. The experiences of those who visited the Auschwitz had me in tears. I cannot imagine the emotions one would feel being there.

Sadly I must admit I didn't know that much about WWII before visiting the
The National WWII museum:
945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

I highly recommend a visit - plan a couple of days to get through the whole thing. Maybe even three.
WWII veterans and children under 5 are free. 2019 [when I visited] active military and family were able to get in free Memorial Day weekend.

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