Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

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Dachau, about 15km outside of Munich was the site of the first Nazi concentration camp, and they have a memorial museum which is both fascinating and horrific at the same time. The Nazi's built this when they came to power in 1933 and this became the model for all the other camps that followed. The museum is excellent but leaves you feeling very sombre, bewildered and outraged that mankind could be so cruel. I actually visted here about 17 years ago on my first trip through Europe and it was always one place that stood out in my memory. Today the museum exhibition site is bigger and more comprehensive.

The sign on the gate says 'work sets you free' when in reality thousands were physically worked to death. For many death would have been a better option than surviving in such an awful place, where human life was worth nothing.

If you are ever in this part of the world this visit is a must, even if its to remind us that this should never be allowed to happen again.

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Photos

Entrance to Dachau Concentration Camp
'Work sets you free'

Cell Blocks
The high profile political prisoners and those in lock down were housed here.

The Dachau Death Strip
If a prisoner steeped onto the grass towards the boundry fences they were shot from the watch towers. Many walked deliberately to end the suffering.

Prisoner Blocks
2 rebuilt prisoner blocks showed the different set ups during the camp life from 1933-45. They were designed to house 200 prisoners but ended up with around 2000 in each towards the end of the war.

The Camp Road
The camp road had 17 rows of blocks into the distance on each side of the road.

The Main Camp Building
Standing between the prisoner blocks looking back towards the main building with the roll call area in the front.

The Camp Site
The foundations of original blocks looking back towards camp building

The Gas Chamber
The fully functioning gas chamber which was disguised as a shower room. Fortunately this was never used in Dachau for some unexplained (but grateful) reason.

The Crematorium Ovens
Unfortunately the death toll in the camps was so high that these were in constant use.

Comments

[Xander]

Dachau Concentration Camp Memoria
Yes, the words 'humankind' or indeed 'human kind' is a fragile concept. It is not an abstract thought nor unidealatistic, however, when we see so much suffering in the world it is remarkable that there is peace at all in the international community. Truly, a worthwhile endeavour to pursue. PAX.