About a mile or two away from Auschwitz I is where Auschwitz II is located. Auschwitz II was built to help easy the influx of “prisoners” in Auschwitz I. This camp was dubbed as the “final solution of the Jewish question.” Unlike Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II is three times bigger. After Auschwitz II was opened, most “prisoners” were sent here to either be gassed or used for labor.
The Little Red House
There were hundreds of brick buildings nicely built in rows. Some of these building were demolished, which was a failed attempted to cover up what’s been happening at the camps. The Polish government did a great job of preserving the camps. Everything in Auschwitz II was kept as is. The red bricked smoke stacks (pictured) were gas chambers.
A typical train cab that would stop in the middle of the camp, where the “selection” began. Leaving a rock is a sign of respect in the Jewish community. There are many places all throughout both camps filled with rocks, especially this cab. I choose a nice white rock to pay my respect. It may not be much.
The first white rock on the left is what I left as my sign of respect
The “prisoners” were separated by gender and slept in wooden barracks that sorta resembled a horse stable. Each barrack had some hay for cushion and the “prisoners” used their shoes as a pillow. Stepping into the women’s barracks sent chills down my spine. It wasn’t the sight that got to me, but the smell. The smell inside of the barracks was nothing I’ve never smelt before. It was the smell of death. It was strong, vile, and intense. I can’t forget that smell. There is absolutely nothing I can compare that smell to. When that smell hit me, it became all too real. I mean, it was real, but it became too real for me to handle.
Women’s Barracks
The “prisoners” were allowed to use the bathroom twice a day. Once before they work and another time right before they go to bed. No one was allowed to use the bathroom in the middle of a work day or at night. The co-ed bathroom was the only place where the “prisoners” were allowed to talk and see their love ones. The Nazis were not allowed inside for sanitary reasons, because of the poor conditions, the Nazis were scared to catch typhoid and other diseases.
“Prisoner’s” bathroom
The typical meal for the “prisoners” are the following:
- one cup of black cold coffee with no sugar or cream for breakfast
- one dinner roll
- one cup of cabbage and potato soup
The cabbage and potatoes were always spoiled and rotten. The small dinner roll was hard and stale. The same cart that the “prisoners” used to haul dead bodies out of the gas chamber was the same cart that was used to haul the cabbage and potatoes.
A demolished building left intact the way it was back in 1945
My final thoughts:
Bittersweet. Bitter at the fact that this even happened and sweet to honor the people who survived and died here. There is nothing I can do to easy the pain. All I can do is pay my respects and pray for all their souls to be free. I can’t imagine the pain and suffering that happened on these grounds. I find that we need pain to feel compassion. As I walked up and down the camp, my heart was filled with compassion. Love one and other. Cherish love.
so incredibly heartbreaking and tragic. thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome, Kathy! Thank you for taking the time to read something not so pleasing.
So, so very sad. It feels almost disrespectful clicking the ‘like’ button.
I feel ya. Thank you so much for “liking” it tho. The more likes, the more awareness this post will get. I was hoping this post would get featured on the Freshly Pressed, but it didn’t. It’s okay. I’m glad to share my experience with others.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog, J.G. Burdette
Another chilling and sad account of the travesty that occurred. I cannot even imagine the smell in the barracks and the fact that it was there, so many years later, is even more haunting. How absolutely horrible that they were only allowed to use the bathroom 2x a day! And that the cart used to haul dead bodies was used to bring their disgusting food. Gosh, if the Jews were put to death in the gas chambers, they most certainly didn’t survive long in those unsanitary conditions! I pay my respects through you, Jen, and thank you for visiting and writing.
I know, right!!! How terrible. The Nazis always found little ways to torture them. So sad. I don’t know if I could use the bathroom twice a day. Or eat one small meal everyday. It’s amazing that people actually survived. I will always remember what I’ve experience and pass it on to my future kids.
Omgosh, I didn’t even know there was an Auschwitz II. How terrible. I like your assessment — bittersweet. I totally get what you mean.
Ya…it was pretty intense. There is also a III, but the tour doesn’t go that far. It’s really small and there is not much to it.
Not the usual happy Jen post I was expecting but a great write up and pics nonetheless.
Awe….I know what you mean. Don’t worry, there are going to be a lot of happy Jen posts on it’s way. LOL OH, I’m loving your Movie Confessional post. I feel like I got to know you a little bit more than before. I might do that movie confessional, if that’s okay with you.
You should take part in that blogathon, I would love to read your movie confessions, just link to Nostra at myfimviews.com as its his blogathon
I think I’m too late to link up with MyFilmViews.com. Ugh….procrastination kills dreams. That saying should be on a shirt. LOL But I’m still going to answer the questions. I’ll be sure to link it back to you and MyFilmViews.com.
This just makes me want to cry. What really gets me, is that we’re all born as pure, innocent babies, and somehow our life experiences can slowly lead us to become monsters that could kill and torture without even thinking twice. I’m amazed that after all these years the smell of death still lingers. These pictures are powerful already. I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to stand in that room.
@SoPupuka: I hear ya, girl. I don’t understand how people can have such hate in their hearts. It was powerful being there and I’m glad that I went. The smell…I could live without that. i can’t even compare that smell whatsoever, nor can I truly remember it fully. BUT…if I ever smell that again, it will instantly take me back to that barn.
wow. How depressing. I can’t believe there’s still a smell after all these years! Really?
@GrrrlTraveler: Yups, Christine…still there. I bet it was even stronger years ago. I don’t know how my other tour mates could stand in that barn for a long time. I couldn’t handle it. It was all too much.
Jen I hooked you up with the new improved Liebster Blog Award http://3guys1movie.com/?p=5801
Whoohooo! Thank you so much….I’m writing the post as we speak! You guys rock!
wow incredible… it must have been amazing to see and experience the place where all the infamous atrocities occurred… I’ve always been interested in the Holocaust and the twisted reasons behind the human psyche that lead to such tragic moments in history. must have been intense to be there!
Totally. It was one of the best experience of my life. Of course, right after visiting there I had nightmares and was mentally and physically drained. If you have the opportunity, I say go for it. The tour itself is free, but I would pay for a direct bus there and back. It’s not as easy to go there as I first thought.