April: Dachau

There is quite a bit of evil lurking below the surface of the countless examples of beautiful art and architecture on the European continent. While we have been fortunate to see so many museums and cities and villages that radiate prosperity, serenity and beauty, sometimes one has to be subjected to the evils of life in order to fully appreciate how good and beautiful life can, and should be. During a recent business trip just outside Munich, my colleagues and I decided to go to the Dachau Concentration Camp. We had the opportunity earlier in the year to travel to Poland with our parish but opted out due to the fact that we would have gone to Auschwitz. We didn't think the boys would be ready to experience such evil at nine years of age. And in all honesty, I didn't think I was ready. I was right. One is never really ready to confront the reality that people throughout history were capable of subjecting their fellow men to such terror. Walking around this now very calm and tranquil place which not so long ago served as the place of so many peoples' demise was a very new sensation for me; complete and utter numbness. I spent about three or four hours in a bit of a trance which is really impossible to accurately describe with keystrokes. Walking around the parade ground which was used to break the prisoners' will each and every day, seeing where they slept, and walking through the showers where so many innocent men and women were killed was truly an eye opening experience which I will never forget and one which I recommend to anyone who finds themselves in this part of the world. In order to stamp out this type of evil, one needs to be reminded that it existed (and unfortunately still does in many places in the world such as Syria and many places in Africa and other places in the Middle East).

 

 

Entryway to the courtyard

Courtyard with one remaining dormitory

 



 

The courtyard was where those who ran the camp forced the prisoners to stand in freezing cold temperatures in tattered thin clothes perfectly at attention for long periods of time.  If anyone moved or passed out or exhibited anything less than what was told of them, they were forced to stand at attention for even longer. This was the way the Germans meant to humiliate and break the prisoners' will and spirit.

 



foundations of rows and rows of former dormitories

 

 

Guard Tower

 

Church built to honor Russian prisoners

 

 

 

 

"Showers" 

 

 

 

"Shower Room"

 

 

 

Gas spouts

 

 

 

 

Bunks

 

 

Chow hall

 

"May the example of those who were exterminated here between 1933-1945 because they resisted Nazism help to unite the living for the defence of peace and freedom and in respect for their fellow men."