The most powerful thing I have yet

Oswiecim, Poland

This place was Amazing

The road to extermination

I had the oppourtunity to travel to the site of `The largest experiment in human genocide in history�. Auschwitz was the site of the largest German concentration camp- there were actually three camps there, and we visited two of them. Auschwitz 1 was the site in which many of the registered prisoners were kept for labourors. It was made to look nice for the German higher officials when they came to visit; the grounds were nicely treed and had benches and even a pool (none of which the prisoners could use of course). It was here that most of the displays and photos were located. Auschwitz 2, just a few miles down the road, was the massive extermination camp. It was humbling the size of the place, as big as an airport, with 30 large barracks all housing up to a thousand prisoners. This is the site (as seen in Schindler�s List) where the trains would pull in, and as the people got off they were sorted: all women, children, and 'un-useful' and Jewish men were immediately sent to their deaths, and those skilled or health men were sent to the barracks for the labour force. More than 1.5 million people, mainly jews, were killed in the gas chambers at this site. It was so powerful to walk around and learn of the torture and deciet that was put upon these innocent people, tricked into thinking they were heading to a better life. This was a day that I will never forget. There were displays of piles of glasses, luggage, combs, hairbrushes, and artificial limbs from the victims; there was a diplay of a couple tons of human hair, that was sent to be woven into textiles for the German people; and the most disturbing display was a long hall-way lined on both sides with thousands of pairs of shoes (of all sizes) from the victims. It gives a little perspective of the scale of the genocide. You also got an instant overwhelming ill-feeling looking at the ovens used to cremate the bodies.

It is hard to describe the emmotions involved with seeing this site, and many people can not handle even going near the site. I have posted some pictures as an incite into the site, and mean no disrespect to the victims. It is important to not forget what happened in the past, as a lesson to future generations.

May history never repeat itself.