I was first struck by the drive after leaving the urban sprawl we passed small villages, farm house and hay fields at certain points the picture of rural Bavarian harmony, beautiful in the simplicity of their existence. We kids also encounter large industrial complexes representing the new Germany, the economic motor of Europe. The turn into Dachau seems to come out of nowhere and suddenly you are there.
It is strange touring a concentration camp. It is an important part of history we should not forget. I think it important for the students to see it. Important to see what the world can do at its worst and hopefully learn how hard we all must work to make the world a better place.
The majority of the barracks have been taken down to the foundations but the mass of humanity packed in at the end is hard to comprehend with close to 60,000 prisoners at the end.
Dachau was a concentration camp that preferred to work you death versus marching you into the gas chamber for your “shower” although this happened as well.
The following photos are mostly in Black and white. It feels appropriate given the topic. I may be unduly influenced by Schindler’s List as well.
The main gate
Albeit Macht Frei….Work sets you free. A chilling lie to those interned at Dachau.
Memorial sculpture
The fence line. Moat, barbed wire, 7 watchtowers. Shoot on sight if a prisoner enters the prohibited zone. Some prisoners intentionally ran into this zone to end their suffering
Over the years the camp grew progressively worse as more prisoners occupied this confined space. There were Typus outbreaks. There are photos of progressively worsening barrack conditions.
The crematorium. Enter at the far end. You go for your “shower” and get gassed. 150 people killed at a time. The room is low and covered floor to ceiling with hard tile. You can see where the “shower heads” once were housed in the ceiling. The next room contain the furnaces for cremation. When you look at that chimney it give you chills
This memorial is just behind the crematorium. No further caption needed.
This is where you went to be executed at gunpoint
This is a Jewish memorial on the site. There is a Catholic site (a service was taking place), Russian Orthodox Church and a Protestant church as well. Perhaps the power of faith is stronger then the darkness
One of the doors in the camp for solitary confinement. The German officer, Georg Elser, who attempted to kill Hitler with a bomb was imprisoned here. He was transferred in from Sachsenhausen Concentration camp. He was eventually killed in 4/9/1945
The prison barracks
The liberators plaque
Group photo at the gate
I was reassured that most of the young men and women could not fathom how such atrocities could have occurred. That fact also highlights the importance of place like Dachau, the lessons of the pass need to be passed on lest we forget.
For the afternoon we head back to Münich. We grabbed a quick lunch.
The appetizer
The main course.
I
Our tour turned into an afternoon bus tour. If you know me, this is disappointing because you can’t get any flavor about a city from the inside of bus.
Munich had 7 city gates.
Munich has a justice building
Munich was the artist city
1000 fountains in Munich
Viters fountain is beautiful
Beienner St was lined with German Gestapo headquarters.
The eternal flame is on the corner.
Black Obilisc was in memory of the 30000 soldiers who did following Napoleon into Ruasia
Ludwig the First admires Greece, and women. The Bavarian flag is White and Blue. Ludwig also hated Napoleon.
King square burning of the books 5/10/1933. Any none Aryan books were burned
During Octoberfest approx 6 million people come to Münich and 7 million liters of beer are consumed.
There are a lot of museums.
Our tour guide Elizabeth dropped those nuggets on us as we looked to the right and to the left. Elizabeth was having none of it when I asked questions. A couple of time I got the “ I am coming to that part” which translated means “be quiet busy body American and let me do my job”
Lowenbrau Brewery
We were able to make 1 stop at Nymphenburg Palace. It is a Baroque style palace with massive grounds. The frontal with even surpasses the Versailles Palace. Commissioned by Ferdinand and Henrietta of Savoy. The palace was expanded by Maximilian II , the Sovereign of Bavaria.
The crew at Nymphenburg
Statue in the garden
Another statue
The Palace and this guy.
The girls were so happy to be off the bus they were jumping for joy.
Olympic Tower. Built for ‘72 Games.
After we dropped of Elizabeth and head to a small Bavaria town for dinner. We missed the rain while in the bus and arrived a this quaint Bavarian town and restaurant. Our host were very excited to feed us and share a bit about their Bavarian culture.
I am in Bavaria
This city mark was cool.
The crew eating dinner
My table mates
We learned that beer was medicine. Only water, barley and hops go into these beers.
Katie, Elsie and I after dinner
The mural I was blocking. We learned about dance and Bavarian parades and that if a girl has the bow on the right she is married and if the bow is on the left she is single. We had a lot of laughs at Thai great little spot.
Once dinner was over it was back on the bus and back to the hotel. Let’s get to bed because tomorrow is Salzburg and the Eagle’s Neat
Also it is this one’s 18th birthday tomorrow!!!!!!
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