Day 11 Auschwitz-Berkinau
Auschwitz is about and hour and half outside Krakow near the village Oswiecim but a visit which should be on any tourists agenda. It’s not pleasant and definitely can’t say it was enjoyable but most definitely memorable and will be inprinted on my memory for many years. Words cannot describe the sheer horror, pain and terror both of these camps inflicted on people the Germans thought were inferior to the Arian race and therefore a blight to humanity.
Auschwitz was built first using mostly the bricks taken from the houses in 6 surrounding villages which were cleared to accomodate the camps and the rubber factory that most of the prisoners were expected to work in as slave labour, even though they had malnutrition, dysentery, lice and all other sorts of illnesses. Once they were to weak to work they were dispatched to the gas chambers. Of the million plus sent to these camps only 200 escaped and only 5% of the total amount sent here were liberated in 1945.
Most people were dispatched to the gas chambers on arrival. Inmates arrived by train, some 80 people including any luggage that they had squashed into each rail truck and usually around 2000 at any one time. Of these 75% (the sick and weak from the journey, children under 12, the elderly and most women) where immediately sent to the gas chambers. The rest lived in horrendous conditions and most dying within months of arrival.
The guides tell a very factual story of life during this time and painting a picture of the horrendous conditions and torture suffered by the inmates.
Auschwitz:
Berkinau:
How can Man be so cruel .............
Auschwitz was built first using mostly the bricks taken from the houses in 6 surrounding villages which were cleared to accomodate the camps and the rubber factory that most of the prisoners were expected to work in as slave labour, even though they had malnutrition, dysentery, lice and all other sorts of illnesses. Once they were to weak to work they were dispatched to the gas chambers. Of the million plus sent to these camps only 200 escaped and only 5% of the total amount sent here were liberated in 1945.
Most people were dispatched to the gas chambers on arrival. Inmates arrived by train, some 80 people including any luggage that they had squashed into each rail truck and usually around 2000 at any one time. Of these 75% (the sick and weak from the journey, children under 12, the elderly and most women) where immediately sent to the gas chambers. The rest lived in horrendous conditions and most dying within months of arrival.
The guides tell a very factual story of life during this time and painting a picture of the horrendous conditions and torture suffered by the inmates.
Auschwitz:
Berkinau:
How can Man be so cruel .............
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