Today is the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. In fact, this January 27 marks seventy years since the Soviet army entered the camp and freed thousands of suffering prisoners. What can I possibly say about a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps that can convey the depth of sadness and disbelief that one feels here? We were silent for almost this whole visit one summer day, and our lack of words then is reflected in my post today.
I’ll let my photos and these brief words from the camp’s memorial suffice.
“Forever let this place be
a cry of despair
and a warning to humanity,
where the Nazis murdered
about one and a half
million
men, women, and children,
mainly Jews
from various countries
of Europe”
********
Auschwitz-Birkenau
1940-1945
One Foot Out the Door 
These pictures make me so sad… But it is good to not forget the past.
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I feel terrible every time I look at them, but I agree about why we need to look at them sometimes. I had read books and studied history, but the impact of actually being there was enormous – like a punch in the stomach.
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I am german and I live near the concentration camp in Dachau. I went there several times and it never stops making you feel anxious. I remember the first time, it was like hell. I grew up hearing about the history of my country, but seeing the place so many people lost their lifes is different. I understand you completly. Thank you for these pictures!
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I’m sure your perspective makes this even more difficult. Thank YOU for your unique comments on this. I have no personal connection and yet it was so powerful and moving.
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Heartbreaking. Your beautiful photos make my eyes water.
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Thank you! I posted on this sad anniversary following the same philosophy as your “Remembering Even When It’s Hard …” post about the 9/11 site. They are not really fun topics to write about, but somehow need to be done.
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Wow, you remembered my post from then. That is cool. Yes this was a hard one to read. I visited a lot of Nazi sites when I lived abroad in France in the 1990s. It was very heartbreaking. I just don’t understand how mankind can be so incredibly cruel. It is crazy.
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Just the sights alone make me cringe.
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I know … tough place to see.
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