We traveled for about two hours through the beautiful countryside of southern Poland, thoroughly enjoying the view. As we entered the charming little village of Birkenau, suddenly there it was. Such an ugly contrast to the beauty we had been enjoying. Birkenau was the site of Auschwitz II. It was sobering to see the long stretches of electric fences, strung with barbed wire as an extra precaution. The imposing fences contained over 300 buildings, some brick, but mostly wooden structures that had once served as field stables for 52 horses, During the war they were used to accommodate up to 1,000 prisoners in each building. Unlike the other concentration camps that functioned as labor camps, Birkenau's only purpose was to be a death camp. The majority of Jewish men, women and children that were deported to Birkenau, were immediately sent to the gas chamber upon arrival in the camp. They were not registered or given an identification number, so there fate was unrecorded.
We only stopped briefly at Birkenau and then we went on to Oswiecim, otherwise known as Auschwitz, which was just a few miles away. This was the first camp established in Poland and had formerly served as barracks for the Polish army. Auschwitz was initially intended only for Polish people, but later people from all over Europe, mainly Jews began arriving at Auschwitz. Even though, the camp functioned as a labor camp, it's main purpose was to exterminate all who came. People not only died in the gas chamber, but also from starvation, disease, torture and hard labor.
There really aren't words to describe the horrors that we learned about during our brief visit to Auschwitz. It is incomprehensible that people could do to other people what they did there. During our visit, we were able to see what the living conditions really looked like for the prisoners. There were also several rooms that contained very moving displays of items found at the camp after it was liberated. The most difficult one for me to see was a glass case that contained small, infant outfits and next to that was another, larger display of shoes that had belonged to toddlers and children.
I could write for days about the awful details that were shared with us, but instead I will give you some statistics: It is estimated that between 1,100,000 and 1,500,00 people died in the Auschwitz camps and over 90% of them were Jewish. These people were taken from their homes and from each other and then they were brutally terrorized and most of them murdered.
I am humbled to think about how spoiled we are and how much we take for granted in our everyday life. After experiencing such a place as Auschwitz, I have realized that most of our problems are just problems in our head. We have so much to be thankful for and really nothing to complain about. I hope I can remember this as I slip back into my routine and regular life. We owe it to all who perished, to never forget them and their spirit. Everyone should make a point of visiting one of these camps in their life time. It is incredible to think that these people who surived the horrors of these camps went on to live productive lives, raise families, start businesses, etc. Although, I am quite sure they were forever changed by their experiences, their spirit was amazing.
Wow - what a moving story. I have been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and the pile of shoes is what got to me the most as well. I don't know why that is so impactful, but it is - I think it is hard to get your head around the huge numbers of people, but seeing their personal possessions makes it more real.
I am sure that seeing it in person is even more striking. Thanks for sharing this story
Posted by: Jobin Hume | 09/20/2009 at 09:51 AM