Hohenschwangau to Munich

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Another day of heavy fog, so drove straight through Fussen and onto Dachau, via the autobahns. Traffic was less than expected leading into Munich. Dachau, 20km north of Munich, was one of the first of the concentration camps set up by Himmler when the Nazi party came to power in 1933, and the longest lasting. So its name came to symbolise all that was evil in this regime. A very sobering experience walking around the remains - through the entry gate with those chilling words 'ARBEIT MACHT FREI'. First viewed a moving documentary movie, then onto the grounds where the barracks once stood. Through a reconstruction of one, then down to the religious memorials for Jews, Catholics, Protestants and lastly Russian Orthodox. Then through the gas chambers, supposedly never used here, but scarey all the same, and onto the two crematoria, where all the dead bodies were burnt until they ran out of coal in 1945 (not the place to take any photos) . Lastly through the museum, a comprehensive account of the tragedy that occured there for 12 years. Over 90% of those visiting with us today were teenage students, making sure those words on the monument come true - 'Never Again'
Ended the day in Munich, after finally returning the hire car. Thank goodness for Tom Tom.

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Photos

Dachau
Symbolic memorial to those who suffered here, looking back across where the barracks once stood

Dachau
The barbed wire and trench used to keep prisoners in.

Dachau
Chilling words that greeted people as they arrived off the trains

Dachau
The Junghaus and gate from the bridge entry