Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Poland in Pictures #3: Auschwitz



The ironic and heartbreaking gate into Auschwitz..."Arbeit Macht Frei", translated means "work makes you free".  This gate was stolen in December 2009 by two Poles and a Swedish former Neo-Nazi leader.  It has since been recovered, but in the spirit of security, the original is protected within the museum, and a replica is kept outside.  




A sample of eyeglasses taken from prisoners




The firing squad wall




One of the two large gas chambers in Birkenau (the second and larger camp in the same city).  These structures were destroyed by the Germans to remove evidence of their crimes on January 26, 1945.
   



Prisoner's quarters


14 comments:

VandyJ said...

I have been interested in the holocaust since I was about twelve. I would really like to visit Auschwitz some day.

bermudaonion said...

Just seeing those photos makes my stomach hurt - I can only imagine how seeing it in person made you feel.

Literary Feline said...

I can't even imagine. I wouldn't be able to get through the tour without crying, my heart breaking for all those lives lost and the torture everyone went through who was imprisoned there.

Thank you for sharing the photos, Sandy.

Nise' said...

I can't imagine the feelings and emotions that one goes through while visiting. Thanks you for sharing your pictures.

Anonymous said...

I thank you so much for sharing these photos. My son is taking a couple of college courses about the Holocaust and we watched some of the movies about it...The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Schindler's List, etc. I don't know if I could handle going there in person, but I am grateful to see the photos instead.

Anonymous said...

It's sobering just to look at these photos.

Jess - A Book Hoarder said...

I visited Dachau some years ago and it was a shocking and unique experience. Thank you for sharing these photos. It amazes me that something so appalling can later create such striking scenes. I think it adds to the horror of it all.

Beth F said...

I can't imagine the emotional impact.

Darlene said...

I can't imagine the emotions that would bombard a person while visiting there but I would like to just to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. Just seeing the pictures breaks my heart. Thanks for sharing a piece of history that we should never forget.

caite said...

What a horror..but still I would like to visit one day.

Anna said...

My heart hurt when I visited the Holocaust museum in D.C. earlier this year. I don't know how I would make it through a tour of Auschwitz. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

Iliana said...

I just don't think I could handle visiting. What heartbreak. Thank you for sharing your pictures, Sandy!

Anonymous said...

This must have such an impact when you visit it. I can't imagine what it is like. I've only been to one of the Dutch "redistribution" camps and find that quite hard to stomach, let alone Auschwitz. I don't think I could handle it and yet.. it is good to actually see such an important and awful part of history as I am sure it makes it "real" much more than only hearing about it in history class.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

I have such vivid memories of visiting Dachau. It's horrible and powerful. If I make it to Poland one day I have a feeling I'll visit Auschwitz. It's painful, but so important to remember what happened.