Auschwitz 1 & Birkenau

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chelle

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Sorry Krela in advance if this is inappropriate but this place deserves to be seen by all...please feel free to put this in another pidgeon hole..we didnt know quite where it belonged.
We spent the weekend in Krakow and took a trip to Auschwitz 1 and 2 Birkenau.I wont go into the history of Auschwitz as it is well covered by Wikepedia..suffice to say it is thee most emotion packed experience one is ever likely to go through.From the moment we passed through the gates we were whisked back to one of mans darkest periods in time.....
Those gates

Excuse the B&W..colour seems disrespectful
Those electric fences

Gallows erected to hang the Kommandant after the war

Gas chamber and gallows

Fence again

Pool...allegedley the fire brigade resovoir designed on a swimming pool

How can a fire brigade resovoir have diving boards?

Fence again looked soo grim

Wall of death...this was the yard where thousands met their grisly end

We move on to Birkenau death camp..this is the platform that many departed the vile trains of death..in the distance is the gate house

Remains of crematoria/gas chamber blown up by the Nazis prior to being overtaken by the red army

Infamous bunk beds where 5 prisoners slept along side each other

Hells gate..every train passed through here to deposit its sad cargo to the platforms of hell....

To see the full album
http://news.webshots.com/album/561643661UTJrgw
sorry if this is depressing but it happened
 
I went there a few years ago and remember walking aroung in a zombifed silence. two things that stuck the most where the hair and shoes.

Did you see that wall with all the holes in it?
 
The death wall in the yard...yes we saw it.....a horrible feeling standing in the yard & knowing so many people met their death there....we are going back next year to see it in better weather as it was raining really hard & we missed some of Birkenau.
Chelle
 
We are going to try & go in August its supposed to be warm then...they do have summer in Poland!!. We only went on Friday for the weekend as it was my birthday & i wanted to go there.....strange person that i am
Chelle
 
I felt compelled to write. My son has just joined the army, he is 16, still a baby. I had this poem e-mailed to me, This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request:

Please would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can. Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our British service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.



T'was the night before Christmas, he lived all alone
in a one-bedroomed house made of plaster and stone
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live

I looked all about a strange sight I did see
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree
no stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand
on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands
with medals and badges, awards of all kinds
a sober thought came through my mind

for this house was different, it was dark and dreary
I'd found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly
the soldier lay sleeping silent alone
curled up on the floor in this one-bedroomed home

his face was so gentle, the room in such disorder
not how I pictured a lone British soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read
curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realised the families that I'd seen this night
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight
soon around the world the children would play
and grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas day

They all enjoy freedom each month of the year
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here
I couldn't help wonder how many more were alone
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home

The very thought brought a tear to my eye
I dropped to my knees and started to cry
the soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice
'Santa, don't cry. This life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more
my life is my God, my country, my corps.'

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep
I kept watch for hours so silent and still
and we both sat and shivered from the cold nights chill
I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night
this guardian of honour so willing to fight

Then the soldier rolled over with a voice soft and pure
whispered 'carry on Santa. It's Christmas day, all is secure'
One look at my watch and I knew he was right
'Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night'
 
Tropica, you're absolutely right...we owe these soldiers, past and present, an awful lot and it breaks my heart when I hear of them living on the streets, forgotten.
When my son was a young teenager and old enough to appreciate it, I encouraged him to watch 'Schindler's List' with me. At the end he was in floods of tears and said he just didn't realise what had gone on. We really mustn't forget what happened, or those who fought.
All the best for you and your son...I think I can appreciate how you're probably feeling.
Thankyou for that.
 
Very moving pictures, without doubt one of the darkest chapters in humanity. My wife travelled around Europe a few years back and she visited some WW2 sites, she said the atmosphere around them was very cold and unpleasant. It's almost impossible to imagine the horrors of places like this, thank you for sharing these photo's with us. :neutral:
 

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