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Today we shifted gears from carefree fun in the sun, to a sobering, enlightening and very educational experience at
Neuengamme Concentration Camp .
We arrived on the same bus as our guide and walked through the gates. It was a beautiful morning, but the emotion of this place served to humble us all. Ms. Herder had already given a brief preview of what we were to see, and what had gone on here. The students were very respectful and kind to our guide, and the memory of this site, throughout the tour.
We were given a guided tour of the grounds starting with the displays in one of the main buildings. We listened to a short audiovisual presentation of an interview with two camp survivors. We were then able to look over artifacts from the camp as well as read many biographies of individuals that were imprisoned in the camp. I think that really created a sense of reality for many of our students, to be able to place a face and name to the story.
From here we toured the campus. The orderly piles of stones throughout the yard signify where the brick and wooden bunkhouses once stood. The red
stones on the outside were the actual bricks used from several of the structures. We toured the brickwork's, which was the main function of this camp. The whole idea was to literally work the inmates to death making bricks. Inmates were forced to dig and move tons of clay as well fire and move the finished bricks by hand. All of this was done with very little to eat and drink, tattered and insufficient clothing and incredibly overcrowded and poor shelter. It was also done under the direct and brutal supervision of the guards. As long as it was light out, prisoners were hard at work. This meant 12-14 hours in the heat of the summer and 9-11 hours in the winter cold. Starting in 1942, workers were farmed out to satellite camps for the same purpose (eventual death), making materials for the war effort. It was said that if you were assigned to the work detail, you would survive no more than 12 weeks.
We also toured what used to be the living quarters for the guards of the camp, a group of S.S. officers. As you would expect, the disparity of life between the two groups, S.S.
and inmates, was immense.
Capping off the tour was a visit to the memorial erected in remembrance of those who had been interned there. A stone chimney and a very moving sculpture have been placed to remind future generations of what has transpired on these very grounds. The sculpture was done by an individual who had been interned at Auschwitz Concentration Camp. In the camps, all prisoners were made to wear colored triangles on their clothes in order to signify what group they belonged to. Notice the amount of triangles present in the sculpture. This was done on purpose by someone who obviously knew of life in a concentration camp. In the memorial building, we were able to view the banners on the walls listing every known person to die at Neuengamme Concentration Camp.
I believe that the visit truly impacted our students. It is a very rare opportunity to be able to visit a place of such historical importance and I think that our students made the most of it! It is not an easy subject to take in and process, but it was obvious that our kids gave it their best effort. Multiple times throughout the
tour, Heidi and I remarked to one another about what a phenomenal group of students we have with us. To be able to remain engaged, intently listening, and politely asking pertinent and thoughtful questions for over two hours on such an intense and mature subject was impressive to say the least!
On another, lighter note, it seems that a rather contagious bug that has been with Heidi and I for years now has begun to infect some of our students. The travel bug is here, and for some, I personally think it is going to stick for a lifetime! Already, some of our students are comparing future travel plans in Europe. One has asked permission to head to Paris for the weekend and is actively recruiting travel companions (request denied btw). It is fun to see the joy and interest in traveling to new places that Heidi and I have had for years now begin to really show in our students!
Tomorrow is the Amazing Race Hamburg 2010! The trash talking has reached a whole new level and everyone seems really amped up for the adventure! I have no doubt that these kids will dominate the course and
it is going to be an intense competition to determine our winners!
There have been some priceless questions asked leading up to tomorrow’s race. I’ll try to post some later tonight if there is time!
-Ben
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