My late uncle was a veteran of WW2, fighting in several area. France, Germany and I believe parts of Poland. As such, it has always held a special place of interest for me. As a kid, I was the benefactor of several war stories, all of which I found fascinating.
One thing for sure...there were some things Uncle Pete did NOT talk much about, if at all. At least not with us. Like many vets, he was able to witness Holocaust atrocities. I was too young to get the details, but I gather that he was amongst some of the first to go into at least one camp....perhaps not the very first, but support troops that came within a few days of liberating the camp.
Anyhow, I am reading a book on the Holocaust right now. Every now and then I will read these books. Perhaps a morbid curiosity about the darkness of the human spirit.
I was wondering if anyone here has had the opportunity to visit any of the concentration camps? Auschwitz being the most likely one. This would be a really nice time to have Archaea here, as he is the German expert and has likely returned to that part of Europe. yes I know Auschwitz is not in germany.
For those that have gone, what was it like? I have read accounts and watched video testimony and several people have said that it was almost too overwhelming to discuss. Would you recommend visiting? Is it something you would do again?
LA has the amazing Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance....one of the better Shoah museums in the country (I would say second to the DC musuem). At the Wiesenthal, upon entrance you are given an ID badge with the name of an actual person that was persecuted under the Nazi regime. You go throughout the musuem tour and at the very end, you stick your card into the computer and it tells you whether your person survived or was murdered. I have been 3 times, and every time I cry at the end. It is almost too much to bear, emotionally.
And yet, something really compels me to visit these actual sites in Europe. I have no Jewish ancestry, so there is no personal family interest. Perhaps simply curious from a historic point of view. But at the same time very cautious.
I would really appreciate it if anyone had any firsthand accounts. It is probably a longshot because most people are going to Disney Paris or the Louvre when they visit Europe.
The thought of standing on those train tracks that lead into the gates at Auschwitz gives me the chills. It actually makes me scared to think about, frankly. That is hallowed ground.
One thing for sure...there were some things Uncle Pete did NOT talk much about, if at all. At least not with us. Like many vets, he was able to witness Holocaust atrocities. I was too young to get the details, but I gather that he was amongst some of the first to go into at least one camp....perhaps not the very first, but support troops that came within a few days of liberating the camp.
Anyhow, I am reading a book on the Holocaust right now. Every now and then I will read these books. Perhaps a morbid curiosity about the darkness of the human spirit.
I was wondering if anyone here has had the opportunity to visit any of the concentration camps? Auschwitz being the most likely one. This would be a really nice time to have Archaea here, as he is the German expert and has likely returned to that part of Europe. yes I know Auschwitz is not in germany.
For those that have gone, what was it like? I have read accounts and watched video testimony and several people have said that it was almost too overwhelming to discuss. Would you recommend visiting? Is it something you would do again?
LA has the amazing Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance....one of the better Shoah museums in the country (I would say second to the DC musuem). At the Wiesenthal, upon entrance you are given an ID badge with the name of an actual person that was persecuted under the Nazi regime. You go throughout the musuem tour and at the very end, you stick your card into the computer and it tells you whether your person survived or was murdered. I have been 3 times, and every time I cry at the end. It is almost too much to bear, emotionally.
And yet, something really compels me to visit these actual sites in Europe. I have no Jewish ancestry, so there is no personal family interest. Perhaps simply curious from a historic point of view. But at the same time very cautious.
I would really appreciate it if anyone had any firsthand accounts. It is probably a longshot because most people are going to Disney Paris or the Louvre when they visit Europe.
The thought of standing on those train tracks that lead into the gates at Auschwitz gives me the chills. It actually makes me scared to think about, frankly. That is hallowed ground.
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