The Death Camps of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Electrified perimeter fencing at Auschwitz first Death Camp

Electrified perimeter fencing at Auschwitz first Death Camp

80,000 pairs of shoes in one display, a fraction of the items recycled by the Nazi's at Auschwitz

80,000 pairs of shoes in one display, a fraction of the items recycled by the Nazi's at Auschwitz

The rail entrance and disembarking area at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

The rail entrance and disembarking area at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Concrete fence posts with ceramic electrical isolators at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Concrete fence posts with ceramic electrical isolators at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

A guards watchtower looks out over the bleak landscape of former prisoner huts at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

A guards watchtower looks out over the bleak landscape of former prisoner huts at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Words are inadequate to describe the events that took place at Auschwitz and Birkenau during World War II.

Being there is probably the only way to take it in, but expect it to leave many questions of how and why.

There is one observation that I’ll make, which is that in certain places on the sites, it doesn’t feel right for people to be there today, or at least there is something insufficiently reverential about the way in which it’s done.

4 thoughts on “The Death Camps of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau

  1. When you think that starts with the will of one guy Hitler and all a country followed this dictator, it is crazy what human kind can do as horrific things … hope we will never forget this period in order to not do the same thing later.

  2. I recently finished reading “The Book Thief” — have you read it? It’s a beautiful book. I usually avoid books about WWII like the plague but this is one of the most original books I’ve ever read.

    The day I finished it Mike and I had a very interesting conversation with a German friend about the Nazi stigma, completely coincidentally.

    Anyway, I highly recommend it!

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