Never Again

Sunday afternoon, R and I went to see the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and Museum.

I of course learned about the Holocaust in school.  I feel lucky to have lived in an area near the United States' first Holocaust Memorial Museum.  Part of what made my experience at that museum so unique was the Q & A session with museum volunteers after having walked through the museum - each of the volunteers there with us that day had survived the Holocaust.  It's one thing to read about history; it's completely different to learn about it from someone who lived it.  They were probably the most optimistic people I have ever met - after surving countless days living in less than humane conditions, every new day is a new blessing in their eyes.

What was also stressed by that museum and the volunteers was that while the Nazi's treatment of their prisoners was certainly unforgivable, that that is only half of the story.  The other half is about the perseverence of the human spirit when faced with immeasurable odds, as well as simple human dignity and respect.  That not everyone subscribed to the ideals and beliefs of the Nazi party and many lives were saved by resistance fighters, some of whom also lost their lives.

When I realized how close we are to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and Museum here, I wanted to see the place that I had heard and learned so much about and to pay my respects.

The barracks that housed the prisoners were all torn down, but two have been rebuilt and the location of the rest are indicated by concrete foundations.

The museum is housed in the main camp building that all new prisoners were processed through.

All in all, I think that it was a well put together museum.  R and I started out by watching the video presentation and then did a self-guided tour of the museum.  The information was presented in a very cause and effect manner, and was personalized by narratives from survivors, prisoner letters, diaries, etc.

Something that stood out to me was that not only were the imprisoned clergy prohibited from practicing their respective faiths, they were also all confined to a single barrack and weren't mixed into the general camp population.  I have always appreciated the open mindedness of the forefathers who founded the United States on the basis of religious freedom and a separation of chuch and state.

If I had to summarize how Dachau felt that day, I would say hallowed. At what was the back of the camp are three memorial chapels: one Jewish, one Catholic and one Protestant. There is also a Russian Orthodox chapel near the creamatorium, as well as a Carmelite Convent just outside one of the camp walls.

History has a funny way of repeating itself if people don't take the time to learn from past mistakes and education is perhaps Dachau's most important role now, a sentiment that I think is summarized by the "NEVER AGAIN" monument that is behind a box of ashes of victims.

 ** I have posted additional pictures of the Memorial as well as narratives that stood out to me here.  Please be aware that some of the narratives and pictures are graphic.