Concentration Camps: have you visited one?

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:17 am

This may seem an odd question, but after reading how Pres. Bush recently took the Holocaust Memorial Tour, I wondered if many members here had ever been to a camp site or seen the Holocaust museum? I have never been. Honestly if I could go, I'm not sure how well I'd handle it.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:36 am

I haven't visited a concentration camp but I did visit the holocaust museum at Jerusalem. I found it incredibly moving, distressing and humbling. I got about 3/4 of the way around and could take no more but I am glad I went.

I have spoken to friends who visited a camp in Poland and they were glad they went, said it was a difficult experience but worthwhile.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:22 pm

My ex-husband was in the military. While we were stationed in Germany, we visited the camp in Dachau. It is humbling, and so sad, to know that so many people died there. The countryside is so beautiful surrounding the camp...mountains and pastures. It is a musuem and a memorial now. I will never forget my visit.

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm

Yeah I was in Dachau near Munich, its a bit mind bending really, because its just a place, but so much mass suffering happened there. Its impossible for the individual to grasp the murder, torture, degredation and pain of hundreds of thousands. I wouldn't go again. Its quite conflicting as part of you feels you should perhaps visit such a place out of respect, but it feels a bit ghoulish to be honest, and any feelings you have are a bit facile as the enormity of the crimes that happened in these places is hard to really emphaise with in any way.

I kinda wandered through it not knowing what to think, but the SS torture block at the side of the big front building, I looked into that through this iron railing gate, and that was a little more personal somehow, and that seriously gave me nightmares just thinking of the fear and terror that must have been experienced by the poor unfortunates that ended up in there. I mean imagine needing a torture block in a concentration camp, and imagine firstly ending up in a concentration camp, and then being singled out for even worse treatment than the ordinary victims recieved. The mind boggles really.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:59 pm

RedGlitter;756779 wrote: This may seem an odd question, but after reading how Pres. Bush recently took the Holocaust Memorial Tour, I wondered if many members here had ever been to a camp site or seen the Holocaust museum? I have never been. Honestly if I could go, I'm not sure how well I'd handle it.

Yes, my wife and I spent a day at Auschwitz whilst we were holidaying in Poland.

It was one of the most moving days of my life - you know they say that birds never fly over the place? We saw not a one.

My wife has since visited the Killing Fields museum in Cambodia and says it is even more emotional because of the part the children played in making it so.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:46 am

Bryn Mawr;756919 wrote: Yes, my wife and I spent a day at Auschwitz whilst we were holidaying in Poland.

It was one of the most moving days of my life - you know they say that birds never fly over the place? We saw not a one.

My wife has since visited the Killing Fields museum in Cambodia and says it is even more emotional because of the part the children played in making it so.

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/killing_fields.htm

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:59 am

fuzzy butt;757301 wrote: Why'd you put the link up for ? we know what we're talking about.:-2

and that's only the most famous of them, there are many more sites in Cambodia and across Laos and Viet.

It was a public service. A gesture. An offering. Info. A visual. Insight. Added value. Effect. I joined in.

Not that much thought went into it.

It was a point of interest.

I thought pictures would be nice.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:13 am

I appreciated it.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:35 am

It was nice of you to post the site Nomad. It was important for me to read about Cambodia again.....so very tragic.

I don't know if I could visit the concentration camps Red. I probably would, but I get so emotional when I think about all the pain and suffering these poor innocent people had to go through. It breaks my heart. For the time being I can't watch any more news or movies about what Hitler's done to the people of Europe.

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:21 pm

I've been to Belsen, but it doesn't really qualify as a concentration camp - it was an extermination camp. I found very disturbing.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:49 pm

fuzzy butt;756922 wrote: Oh bryn what a horrible place to visit I couldnt' do it myself. did your wife go to the Khmer Rouge torture chambers with all the photographs?

I believe that they went to both Tuol Sleng with the torture chambers and Choeng Ek with the memorials.