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The Auschwitz & Birkenau Death Camps, 5/03
The
remains of the Nazi death camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau
are not places that I especially wanted to visit. If anything,
it felt more like something I had to visit. Rather than hire
a guide, I chose to walk around on my own- the few hours I
spent wandering around this place left images in my mind I'll
never forget...
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see a larger version in a separate window
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The
infamous sign, "Work Will Make You Free," outside
the main gate of Auschwitz. This has to be one of history's
largest, and cruelest lies. |
Ruins
of prisoner barracks at Birkenau, just about 1.5 miles
down the road from Auschwitz. The two camps operated jointly,
although Birkenau was almost exclusively a killing ground,
while Auschwitz held prisoners for work as well as execution.. |
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Barracks
at Birkenau that have been preserved. |
The
main entrance to Birkenau, the end of the line in more
ways than one. |
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Inside
the 'Detention Block' at Auschwitz, Number 11- some of
the cruelest Nazi atrocities took place here. |
This
is part of the main memorial at Birkenau- this same plaque
was written in more than a dozen languages, each from
nations whose citizens the Nazis murdered. |
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The
'Execution Wall' at Auschwitz, which needs very little
explanation... |
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The
single surviving gas chamber at Auschwitz- walking inside,
the sense of fear, the powerlessness, and the realization
that literally tens of thousands were murdered in this
room surrounds you like a damp shroud.
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