Auschwitz II Berkinau

Auschwitz II-Birkeneau is 346 acres, 300 barracks and other buildings, 10 miles of barbed wire and 4 gas chambers and crematoriums.
Looking back on the gate. It was the largest of more than 40 camps and sub-camps and the only camp that combined extermination with forced labour.
When we were in Westbrok Netherlands earlier this spring, we saw the train car that left there with Jews in it to be brought here in these little cars crammed full with no bathrooms.
The Trains would come to this point in the camp and the SS dressed in doctors coats would decide life or death. Left death, right labour camp.
Our guide. In 3 years of operation 90% of the prisoners died.
Most labourers died from starvation or were exterminated when they were unsuitable for work.
A Crematorium that was blown up when the Russians were approaching. They wanted to hide their horrendous crimes.
The walk to the Crematorium.
Description of Crematorium III.

International monument for the victims of Auschwitz-Birkeneau. It has plaques in 23 languages.
The inscription reads: For ever let this placement be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity. Where the Nazi's murdered about 1.5 million men, women and children, mainly Jews from various countries in Europe.
Description of Crematorium II.

In February 1943 Gypsy Family Camp was created and in September 1943 a Jewish Family camp was created. These camps were for propaganda reasons as the families wrote censored letters to those outside the camps.
In August of 1942  a women's camp was opened and the women were moved from Auschwitz I.
Beds in the bunkhouse. They would be crammed with men and you didnt want to get the very bottom. 
These stones never worked or gave off so little heat. The winters would get to minus 20 much colder than now a days.
 Leaving Auschwitz II-Birkeneau. These have been hard to write and is hard to do justice to what happened here. It is a very hard place to go but so important that we do. Our world right now is following down a path that could bring us to this again. There are some wonderful resources on line. I highly recommend the Auschwitz memorial and museum site as there are endless articles and information and testimonials there.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bratislava

Image
The most photograghed statue in Bratislava. Cumil known as "The Man at Work" or "The Watcher". Rumour has it that he is a sewer worker who is taking a rest or who is looking up the ladies skirts. He was right across the street from our apartment. There is so much graffiti in Bratislava. It is a shame as it is on the ancient as well as newer walls. We arrived early before our apartment was ready so we went for food. Roz has introduced me to homemade lemonade.  Around the corner from our place was a pirate candy store. So many types of candy. Even Lego bricks. The entrance hall to our apartment. Roz done qvlgood finding this one. It is right in the heart of old town. Beautiful staircase to the upper floors. Hi Wes. We are on the 3rd floor. Looking out the living room window in our apartment. There is a courtyard between us and the set of apartments on the adjacent street. ...
Read more

SOS On Another Adventure

Image
So like two young carefree adults, Ed and I are setting out on a new adventure. The SOS team, Roz and myself, have decided to add two addtions to our team. Our husbands, Ed and Wes. Roz and Wes have been in Europe for several weeks already, enjoying their obsession with curling and bonspieling in the most amazing places. We are meeting them in London at Victoria station to continue on the journey with them. I am hoping all the tricks I learned last year from Roz will help me navigate getting to the train to take us to Victoria Station. Unlike when we were young and backpacking now technology makes things so much easier. Early morning start at Departure Bay. Of course on our flight, Ed found a young mom with a baby and gave her some relief by holding on to a baby who just wanted to move and won't have a nap. We ended up having a bunch of people passing little Rowan around and mom was able to have some adult conversation. No sleep on the plane. We ...
Read more

Porthmadog to Caernarfon

Image
After, William Madocks constructed the 1.6 kms seawall, now known as The Cob, he inadvertently formed a natural harbour. It did not take him long to realize the potential of the channel. Porthmadog was built to house the port workers but also the flourishing shipbuilding trade. Between 1830-1913 over 300 ships were built here. With the harbour, came the need to replace horse-drawn slate cars bringing slate from mines and quarries in the mountains to the wharves in Porthmadog to be shipped around the world. A narrow-gauge railway was built called the Ffestiniog Railway that was fed by various tramlines from the quarries. Still later the Welsh Highland Railway was added. We took a ride on this section of railway. Cenotaph across from our accommodations in Porthmadog. The mountains behind our accommodations. The Garth Calvanistic Methodist Chapel that is abandoned then slated for apartment conversion but is now an eyesore. It is a lovely buildin...
Read more