Adam_B
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For those that dont know Auschwitz was 3 german concentration camps that were liberated at the end of WW2 60 years ago this year, my grandad was a POW at one of the camps and was involved in bringing it down.
first few pictures are from the first camp.
next is the 2nd camp, Birkenau. Between 1941-1944 its thought that 1 million people were killed here, the first 3 pictures are the remains of one of the underground gas chambers.
unfortunatly the 3rd camp, Monowitz, has been long forgotten. This was where my grandad was imprisoned after his tank was captured by general Rommel in Africa. There is nothing left really apart from a few ruined towers and a small monument in memory of those that died.
I wasnt sure about going but im glad i did, Anybody else been, what did you think?
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Skipz
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Registered: 23rd Aug 03
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I havent been, I dont know if I'll ever go as i feel that it's not a tourist site, just a Place of Rememberance for the families of people killed there 
Thats not a dig at you Adam you have a family member that Survived, It's just my Opinion that Anyone that never had a family member killed/Caged (caged is the best word i can find to described the way they were imprisoned) should Stay away and let it be... It shouldn't become a tourist Site as then it will lose it's value in history
Pictures are good enough for me!
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Adam_B
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Youve just described exactly how i felt walking round, especially when i saw about 15 japaneese tourists all snapping away etc. Even tho my grandad was at Monowitz i still felt a bit weird, especially next to the gas chambers. I didnt want to take those pictures as it just felt so wrong to me.
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Corsa Sport Gav
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Registered: 12th Feb 03
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ojc will like this
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Hmmmm not the kinda place id like to visit
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bradfincham
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wow, i would like to visit that place, just to feel first hand how bad it must have been and how horrendous it all was.
Im extremely interested in military stuff
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Rob H
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I'd actually like to visit there to get an idea of the scale of what actually went on. All the programmes about it etc dont really give you any scale of what actually happened.
I think more people should go and see what happened, and understand why such things as the UN, who oppose dictators etc, are such a good idea .
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Skipz
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quote:
Originally posted by Adam_B
Youve just described exactly how i felt walking round, especially when i saw about 15 japaneese tourists all snapping away etc. Even tho my grandad was at Monowitz i still felt a bit weird, especially next to the gas chambers. I didnt want to take those pictures as it just felt so wrong to me.
I know what you mean about the tourists A Few of my Family members were killed in WWII so i tend to See monuments or places where loads of people were killed as Places of Rememberance,
To Be honest though I dont think you should feel it was Wrong to take those Pictures, You never know in 60 years time those last "Surviving" Parts of the Holocaust may not be there, then what can you show your grandchildren about what Your Grandfather suffered???
IMHO I admire you for taking the Pictures many wouldnt understand why, but it is hard to visit a Place like that knowing full well that your Grand father was put through hell there...
Also did you see the Documentary made by a Young Jewish lad whose grand Mother Survived the holocaust?? If you didnt it is a Must see!! I watched the whole thing cant remeber the name but I'll try and find out
[Edited on 31-05-2005 by h18_oab]
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broster
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i dont think places like this should be forgotten, allowing people in is a good thing, it means family member will not be forgotten for what they did for us......
or maybe im wrong
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sneddz
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thats quite strange likes seems to be like a ghost town or summit (i know what i mean in my head)
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Adam_B
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yes, i deliberatly took pictures away from all the tourists to try and get a more acurate feel of what its like when your there. When your walking around the camp theres people talking and birds singing etc, then you get to the gas chambers and its completly silent, its very spooky.
quote:
Originally posted by h18_oab
Also did you see the Documentary made by a Young Jewish lad whose grand Mother Survived the holocaust?? If you didnt it is a Must see!! I watched the whole thing cant remeber the name but I'll try and find out
Not seen it, but my mum was saying about it while we were there, i'll remind her to find the video.
I didnt go on my own, that would have been too wierd. I went with my Aunt, uncle, cousins and my mum and dad and my sister. It was good because thats all my grandads children and grandchildren.
[Edited on 31-05-2005 by Adam_B]
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Skipz
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quote:
Originally posted by broster
i dont think places like this should be forgotten, allowing people in is a good thing, it means family member will not be forgotten for what they did for us......
or maybe im wrong
Nobody is Saying it should be forgotten bud.. Just saying it should be a Place of Rememberance not a tourist attraction... All I'm Saying is People who visit should have the Common Decency to Remember that Someones family was Killed/Caged where those buildings Stand wether the buildings are there or not
It's not a Place that everyone should go to and get their photo taken at the Wire fence, or buy a t-shirt saying " I've been to Auschwitz" it's somewhere to Remember those who suffered and lost their lives!
Adam Watch the Documentary, you'll appreciate the Lengths this lad went to, he was only 13-14 and done a lot of research! It's worth Seeing this, It may be froma young lads eyes... but he's deffinately done his homework!
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Graham
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Registered: 12th Oct 03
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i would like to visit auschwitz some time in the future. the youth of today should be educated about this and it shouldnt be forgotten.
IMO
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MarkM
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Registered: 11th Apr 01
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Without ever being there them pictures are instantly very moving...especially the gas chamber remains...
They should preserve that place as a reminder of the suffering that happened there...so we can never forget how many peoples lives were lost...
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stuartmitchell
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Registered: 24th Apr 04
Location: Kirkliston, Edinburgh
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Interesting I would also like to go  very sad aswell though, I was in Normandy 3 years ago and it was a very sad place  I can imagine a POW camp being quite morbid
Also been to the Imperial war museum in London, the holocaust section is very interesting. There were germans there too looking totally bemused by it all, bastards
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
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i've been to la somme.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/somme.htm
quite surreal.
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Russ
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i liked this thread, UK people especially forget how lucky we were.
Goto Ypres (pronounced eep or eeprrrh if ur posh) in Belgium if you ever get the chance. the Menin Gate there is Surreal, hundreds of thousands of names engraved on the wall there. and EVERY night at 7 the local fire dept. plays the last post on trumpets, every night, since the end on WW1 apart from a few yeasrs during WW2 when belgium was under German rule, but the very same day they go it back.... you guessed it, 7pm on the dot and every night since for over 60 years! and to think most of UK dont even bat an eyelid at 11/11.
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Skipz
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Russ we shall be driving through Belgium on route to my sisters in germany may stop and have a look at that 
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Russ
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do, its weird as fuck, it got almost completely destroyed during WW2, so they rebuilt it EXACTLY how it was before it was destroyed, like going back in time. If you walk up threw the gate into the gardens theres a few mini graveyards, with ike 5/6 graves, seems strange that 100yards away theres walls with names 100k's of dead on.
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Adam_B
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quote:
Originally posted by stuartmitchell
There were germans there too looking totally bemused by it all, bastards
Dont confuse the Germans with the Nazis, they are 2 very different cultures.
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Chump
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Registered: 1st Feb 04
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quote:
Originally posted by bradfincham
wow, i would like to visit that place, just to feel first hand how bad it must have been and how horrendous it all was.
Im extremely interested in military stuff
technically this isn't actually possible unless you are a time traveller.....
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R Lee
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Registered: 15th Aug 03
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A lot of German people hate Nazis.
Nazis are still in Germany now and cause havoc. Penises...
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stuartmitchell
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Registered: 24th Apr 04
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quote:
Originally posted by Adam_B
quote:
Originally posted by stuartmitchell
There were germans there too looking totally bemused by it all, bastards
Dont confuse the Germans with the Nazis, they are 2 very different cultures.
sorry, I generalised a bit, I think the Germans have tried to forget the Holocaust tbh Its a dark part in there history and are obviously ashamed of there Nazi ancestors. Some of these German fowk were clearly shocked by what they were reading in the war museum..
[Edited on 31-05-2005 by stuartmitchell]
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Skipz
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quote:
Originally posted by stuartmitchell
quote:
Originally posted by Adam_B
quote:
Originally posted by stuartmitchell
There were germans there too looking totally bemused by it all, bastards
Dont confuse the Germans with the Nazis, they are 2 very different cultures.
sorry, I generalised a bit, I think the Germans have tried to forget the Holocaust tbh Its a dark part in there history and are obviously ashamed of there Nazi ancestors. Some of these German fowk were clearly shocked by what they were reading in the war museum..
[Edited on 31-05-2005 by stuartmitchell]
Adolf Hitlers Family was so Ashamed that all Members of his family bearing the Name Hitler took an Oath NOT to give birth to any children if they had not already, if they Had already they took an oath not to have anymore and their children were not to either!
To this day Historians and Geneaoligists have not found anyone that directly descends from Adolf Hitler
[Edited on 31-05-2005 by h18_oab]
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Jambo
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Ive not been to auswhitz but the big one in Prague, i forgot its name i have been to and its one of the most eye opening experiences ive ever seen,
The horror really brings home exactly why people fought in the war and gave their lives. To stop fascism in its most horrific form,
Its a peice of history and every child should be taken to one on a school trip
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