Dachau, which you may or may not know, was the first concentration camp to receive any changes to "concentration policy". Anything approved there, would be sent to the hundreds of other similar camps. Before the war started, Dachau was used by Hitler to imprison 5000 of his closest political enemies. Once this was achieved, Hitler was swept into legitimate political power with 97% of the popular vote. Quite honestly I'm surprised it wasn't 100% considering anyone who may have voted against Hitler was in Dachau. Some of the most interesting things I learned on this tour and the camp didn't even occur at war time. It's a sad state of political manipulation and exploitation.
On the trip, I saw the famous words on the main gate "Arbeit macht frei", and I saw the crematorium, gas chamber, torture room, barracks, and the "jail" within Dachau. There were also many memorials in place, including the incredibly gruesome memorial piece in front of the main hall.
When American troops liberated the camp in 1945, they found 30,000 people within the camp walls. This camp was designed to max out at 6,000 prisoners, and trust me, it shows. At one point our guide showed us a picture of a large pile of bodies the allies found upon liberation. He then said "see those two windows in the picture there? That's where you're standing", that one sure got me.
The tour was exceptional, and it made all these stories I've read about concentration camps very real. I'm quite glad I went, and I hope to view more history of this kind.
-Kyle out
7 comments:
Wow. I think it's necessary, though painful, to preserve even dreadful historical locations such as this. Maybe someday we will all learn from past mistakes so this never occurs again. I remember when I went to see "Life is Beautiful" with you. You were pretty young but I know it made quite an impact.
Thanks for the updates. Love, Mom
Wow. (You're Mom put it very well). Definitely jealous--the good kind as we've discussed. Keep taking advantage of all the opportunites around you!
I'd give you an update from North America...but nothing has changed, haha. :)
...and by "you're" I meant "your"...obviously.
Oh hey, I can comment!
I read this every day, keep it up. Really insightful on this post.
- Adam
Hey man, sounds like you've got some interesting stories already and you've only been there for a week. Can't wait to see what you do next. This blog has become one of the first things I look at everyday. Keep up the sweet posts.
Tompo
I remember the day Shannon and I visited Dachau. She had sat in some gum and it was stuck all over her butt and she complained about it non-stop. Then we went to Dachau and it sort of made the gum on her butt seem very insignificant. Sometimes when I am cold, or in an uncomfortable bed, or hungry, I think about what those people went through and put my "problems" in perspective.
Very Jealous you got to see Dachau. When Garrett and I were there it was closed :( I'm suprised to hear that it said "arbeit machen Frei" on the gates; I thought that was only Awschwitz. Shows what I dont know. Very Jealous
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