Stepping through the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau was
surreal. We arrived before 10 so we were allowed to wander without a tour. It
was humbling to see the conditions in which the Russian soldiers, Romas and
Jewish prisoners lived.
One exhibit showed newspaper clippings
where top German officials bragged about the extermination of Jewish Poles,
asserting the camp’s deprivation and starvation puts them in their place and is
no more than they deserve. The rank hatred was nauseating and incomprehensible.
The children were especially touched by the
displays of confiscated belongings. Piles and piles of shoes, brushes,
suitcases and pots and pans line the hallways like an honor guard paying homage
to the fallen. We didn’t take many photos. It felt like an intrusion.
The film wasn't shown the day we
went, that may have been too much for the children. However, the camp left an impression. I hope my children always
remember.
Needless to say when Mike and I suggested we visit Schindler’sFactory a few days later we were met with resistance. As E put it, “It’s just
too sad.” We went anyway.
This museum, located on the outskirts of
the city, is excellent. The display tells the story of Krakow during WWII and
explains what happened to the Jews forced into the ghetto—their life, work and
death. A film at the beginning of the exhibit gives the details of the
Schindler factory and features several former employees. It was very well done.
No comments:
Post a Comment