We had another friend visit this weekend and yesterday we took him to see the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Luke and I had not been there yet. I think in many ways we are still processing what we saw yesterday. I think it is hard to comprehend the reality of this camp (and others like it) sitting in a history class in the United States. Walking through the buildings and camp make it a little more real, but it is still difficult to comprehend exactly what took place on those grounds for so many years. It is sombering to consider the depth of depravity of the human heart, that we are all this depraved and yet have been shown amazing grace by our Lord and Savior that we so desperately need. I will post pictures for now and maybe share some more thoughts later. If you're interested in more information check out the website of the memorial site: http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/index-e.html
The main entrance to the camp. The brick road is the main road leading into the camp that many prisoners were marched in on. Many other prisoners were brought in packed on train cars. A very small part of the railway is still present inside the camp.
Arbeit Macht Frei (Work brings freedom). Many prisoners in this camp died as a result of the unbelievable work demands and conditions they faced. They were only given a small ration of bread once every 4 days and expected to perform hard labor for many many hours a day.
"JOURHAUS" The main entrance to the camp and main office of the SS officers of the camp.
One of the guard towers. Many prisoners "attempted" to escape knowing they would be shot and killed and in many ways realized death was their only escape.
Entrance to the bunker/prisoner cells. Much of the torture of prisoners took place inside this building. This is also where prisoners were initially brought and "medical examinations" were completed. Later in the war "special prisoner" and religious prisoners were held here where conditions were slightly better than those of the barracks.
Looking down the hallway of the bunker with prisoner cells lining the hallway.
A door to one of the prisoner cells and a look inside one of the prison cells. Many of these cells were used as "Standing cells and were divided into smaller sections so that a prisoner could not sit or lay down and filled with many prisoners at one time. The prisoners were often left in the "standing cells" for days.
Inside the prisoner barracks. These "beds" are the largest. As you walk through the bunker the beds become smaller and smaller as they had to make more room for prisoners. The camp was expanded around 1940 to hold 6,000 prisoners. When the camp was liberated in April 1945 there were over 30,000 prisoners being held in the camp.
A memorial in front of the main building. The main building housed SS soldiers, used as a place to carry out torture and to perform "medical experiments" on prisoners.
The main entrance to the camp. The brick road is the main road leading into the camp that many prisoners were marched in on. Many other prisoners were brought in packed on train cars. A very small part of the railway is still present inside the camp.
Arbeit Macht Frei (Work brings freedom). Many prisoners in this camp died as a result of the unbelievable work demands and conditions they faced. They were only given a small ration of bread once every 4 days and expected to perform hard labor for many many hours a day.
"JOURHAUS" The main entrance to the camp and main office of the SS officers of the camp.
One of the guard towers. Many prisoners "attempted" to escape knowing they would be shot and killed and in many ways realized death was their only escape.
Entrance to the bunker/prisoner cells. Much of the torture of prisoners took place inside this building. This is also where prisoners were initially brought and "medical examinations" were completed. Later in the war "special prisoner" and religious prisoners were held here where conditions were slightly better than those of the barracks.
Looking down the hallway of the bunker with prisoner cells lining the hallway.
A door to one of the prisoner cells and a look inside one of the prison cells. Many of these cells were used as "Standing cells and were divided into smaller sections so that a prisoner could not sit or lay down and filled with many prisoners at one time. The prisoners were often left in the "standing cells" for days.
Inside the prisoner barracks. These "beds" are the largest. As you walk through the bunker the beds become smaller and smaller as they had to make more room for prisoners. The camp was expanded around 1940 to hold 6,000 prisoners. When the camp was liberated in April 1945 there were over 30,000 prisoners being held in the camp.
A memorial in front of the main building. The main building housed SS soldiers, used as a place to carry out torture and to perform "medical experiments" on prisoners.
1 comment:
You are right, it is so different actually seeing where this happened instead of just reading about it. I can't imagine how anyone survived in these prisons.
I would love to be able to have the time you and Luke will have to visit so many interesting places. And now Carmen and Schaun will be in Japan doing the same!
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