This Psalm 130 is from the Hebrew Bible and the first words of it are engraved on the wall of the Church of Reconciliation at the Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Dachau.
It is powerful.
Dachau is the first concentration camp Deb and I had ever seen or visited. We felt apprehensive the night before we went with many mixed emotions. To be honest, I was afraid of what I might see and not sure if I could handle actually being in a Concentration Camp after what I have read and heard.
But it is important for everyone to never forget what happened here.
An odd picture to start my Dachau post but I wanted to show this memorial that shows all the different badge colours that 'prisoners' to the Camp wore.
Examples are the Red triangle-political prisoners.
Purple triangles-Jehovah's Witness
Yellow badge-a Jew
and many more.
The list of 'who' prisoners were was endless. Almost every country was represented, Polish, French, Germans, Soviets, Austrians, etc. as well over 2000 clergy from many denominations.
As we travelled to Dachau via train, I am acutely aware that many of the people who were sent to Dachau came by trains. I allowed myself time to think about what they must have thought and felt travelling, against their will, to an unknown place. How terrifying? Unimaginable to me.
About a 20 minute train ride from Munich to the village of Dachau. Followed by a 5-10 minute bus ride that drops us right at the camp.
Dachau was the first concentration camp during the Nazi regime. Opened shortly after Hitler was in power. All other camps were modelled after this one.
Opened on March 22, 1933.
A work camp for political prisoners?
I was struck and impressed that the 'Information Center' was built sparse and simple. I didn't even realize that is what it was. We rented audioguides (very worthwhile and I would recommend them) which not only guided us through the camp with tons of info but also had surviver commentaries of life at the camp, but also how they survived it.
Quietly, silently, solemnly visitors made their way to the camp entrance.
Coming to the infamous gate you can now see the sign "Arbeit Macht Frei" or "Work makes you free.'
I am standing on the freedom side of the gate, somewhat nervous to go through.
Originally built to hold 5,000 people, Dachau held 12,000 people after 1942; 30,000 at Liberation by the Allies in 1945.
It wasn't altered to hold the extra, they were crammed....which is not even close to understand how they lived in these barracks.
206,206 prisoners were registered. Estimated 50,000 died here at Dachau. Many deaths not even registered.
"Roll call" would have been a disturbing sight. As one survivor, who had just arrived at the camp, as a prisoner, witnessed, thousands of people, standing still, for a great long time.....all bald. It terrified him.
When they arrived, all possessions, clothing, etc. were taken from you, including the shaving of all hair.
The barracks looked about the size of 2-3 portables, joined together, that I had classes in at highschool.
The beds. If you didn't get a bed, you sat on benches, If you didn't have a place on the bench, you sat on the floor, if there was no space on the floor you would stand. This is how they lived.
The bathrooms.
The sinks.
More beds.
I was listening to the audio tape with recounts from a survivor, and walking through the rooms, and the tears just started. I had a hard time getting control of my sadness, and it brings me back to tears again thinking about it. Inhumane conditions. Men, women, children lived here. Afraid for their lives every single day. I didn't live it, but I can barely imagine it. I am filled with grief for what these people suffered.
Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Only two barracks are still standing. The rest, 30 in total, were demolished. You can still see the outlines of each one as you walk. This was barrack #15 which you can see the guard tower looming just behind.
Below is 'Camp Road.' There was a sense of solidarity amongst the prisoners. No one would help them. They helped each other. There were many acts of heroism that are noted in the testimonies that survivors have shared.
The Dachau Concentration camp was heavily defended and secured to ensure that no prisoners escaped.
A ten-foot-wide (3m) area of ground called "the neutral zone" was around each camp building. This was to mark where prisoners were not to trespass.
A four-foot-deep and eight-foot-broad ditch lay behind the 'neutral-zone."
The whole camp was surrounded by electrically charged barbed wire and a wall.
On the west side of the wire was a deep canal filled with water, which was connected to the river.
Daunting.
Sadly, some prisoners purposefully, helplessly, hopelessly, went into those areas to be shot, or threw themselves on the barbed wire to end their suffering.
This plaque below I spotted in the 'cremation room' in "Barrack X." It tells how four women died here but fought as Resistance fighters during WWII. It touched my heart, the courage that they must have possessed.
"Barrack X" or the Crematorium. The horrors that occurred here I cannot share.
It is life altering to visit this place. Deb and I were speechless even with each other.
Just a small look at what is inside.
So many deaths. But then April 29th, 1945 Liberation came with the Allies breaking through.
Many memorials are located on the sight of the Concentration Camp.
Below is the grave site of the many thousands of unknown dead prisoners who were found after liberation.
Another memorial to the unknown prisoners who died at Dachau.
In this beautiful, quiet bit of green space, many died at the hands of the Nazis. Firing squads killed thousands here against a wall. Silently walking through, it is unimaginable to believe what happened here.
Only a few kilometres from the train station, in the village of Dachau?
Stones placed on the grave site is a Jewish tradition, I believe, that is a symbolic act that shows that someone has visited and the deceased has not been forgotten.
I am compelled to place a stone....because I will never forget them.
Below another, tomb acknowledging the unknown prisoners who died nameless.
A monument depicting the horrors of the camp.
Below is the Jewish Memorial, the dark grey coloured structure.
There are more religious memorials but I chose this one to show.
All built after the Liberation, and very important to visit.
There is also a Museum filled with room after room after room of information about Dachau. As you walk through the beginning of the Museum, you are actually walking the exact rooms that the prisoners of Dachau came through when they arrived. Profoundly moving.
Deb and I spent 6 hours here. I know what you are thinking. Why? We could have taken a tour, about 3 hours long, but we wanted to take our time and not be rushed through.
Incredibly moving. Sad. Shocked. Mixed emotions. Amazing to see the sight. But unbelievable that human beings can treat others human beings as they were here.
There are no words to describe what happened here or how we are profoundly changed from the experience.
Deb kept thinking about her Dad who was a Veteran during her visit here at Dachau.
Never again. Never again. Never again. Never again.
This post is dedicated to my friends Linda Genser, Sharon & Victor Moncarz and their three children, Drew, Jillian & Jamie who I lived with for one year at the age of 16.
