In the years when I was 5-10, my father was stationed in Germany, so he hauled the whole family over, and I have to say, it was the best experiance of my life. Castles, forests, GREAT food! I remember everything about it, even though I was very young.
One thing that sticks out in my mind (that wasn't so pleasant), was a trip that my family took to, Dachau, a concentration camp, that has since been converted into a museum of sorts. My mother (may she be at peace), is Polish, and her father and other relitives, had been in concentration camps, so she wanted to go.
I remember very little about the huge compound itself, but I do remember the "feeling" of the place.
I was only 7, but I remember the heavy, wet blanket feeling I got, as soon as I stepped into the large compound. I had no idea what the place was, or what it used to be, I do remember my mother and father sending my sister, and I out of the building, where there were pictures of the inmates, they didn't want us to see that when we were so young.
I wanted to leave, so badly. It was horrible. Almost like being so sad and depressed that you just can't shake it.
Has anyone else, ever visted a Concentration Camp? Did you get the same feeling? Or was I just weird at a young age?
Thanks!


"This Is Not A Game. Here And Now, You Are Alive."
Terry Pratchett
"Small Gods"

I have never visited any concentration camp and I am not sure I would want to. Knowing that half my families history, Hungarian and Austrian, were destroyed and killed in Auschwitz and knowing what happened to them is enough for me.

I can only imagine that psychologically being in a place like that would produce feelings of oppression and what you experienced. It is all too sad.

My granparents and relatiives were thrown into concentration camps during world war 2, just for being Japanese Americans. Why didnt they have one for German- americans??

Not all of my relatives made it out either.


god bless america.....

My mother is a holocaust survivor. Even though I've been to Germany several times to visit our family there, you literally couldn't drag me to one. I have no interest in a monument to senseless slaughter..

I've been to Germany, but never to a concentration camp. Maybe it's copping out, but I just don't think I could go -- I really don't think I could handle it. Today I was reading an account on the net from someone whose family was Polish, who went to Poland to research the family history. I don't think she mentioned any of her family being killed, although they were displaced. But just reading her description of the camps made me tear up, and I almost started crying at work.

******************************************

I just tried to find the site again -- it took a while, but I found it. Here's the link for anyone interested in reading it: Perry Eisman -- personal account of trip to Poland

--Seahorse

I've had rel stuck in those things, some made it some didn't

However I think I'd like to walk around one and try and get the felling of what it was like. Movies can make it seem real, but walking where they have is another thing

To all of you who lost family members in those death camps or with surviving members of your families, I am so sorry for the loss and heartache. To Moe, I feel the same for you and I never did understand the logic of that either.

I didn't have any family in either of those places. My Father was over there in ww2, and until the day he died never wanted to speak of his experiences there. I would never want to go near there, I can just imagine how horrible the vibes would be. I remember having to watch some kind of film footage in high school of them just shoving hundreds of bodies at a time into some big hole with a (back-hoe?) like they were just garbage at a dump. I had to leave the room, it made me sick.

Yes, the "feeling" of that place is really all I remember. The best way to discribe it would be....hmm...dispair. I hope to never feel that way again, it was so overwelming. Even when I think about it, to this day, I get the same heavy feeling in my chest.

All I have to say is, if there is still anyone out there, who thinks the Holacaust, was a hoax....put a blindfold on and walk into one of those compounds, the feelings alone will make you weep.

(The last comment was not directed to anyone in particular, I just had heard the hype about groups who claimed it WAS a hoax)

I heard that same "hoax" thing, too. Unbelievable. Like I said, that was some real film footage we saw in that class. That wasn't a hoax! My dad was over there along with how many others...that wasn't a hoax! I don't know where these .....can't even think of a fitting word for them at the moment...people come up with this garbage! Goes to prove that there's just as much hate and evil out there now (maybe more?) as then. What would motivate someone to make such a bizzare claim?

I dont beleive in haunted places in a paranormal sense. I think that the "haunting" is in the memory of a horrible event that took place there.These things are dealt with differently for everybody. Some people manifest them extravaneouly. These are when ghosts appear. Others manifest them introvaneously. This is when people describe hauntings as feelings of fear and dread..............

Moe?

yes??

stop using jungian personality types

but we havent covered intuition and sensation!!

yes Moe, but nobody likes a long post

Who said the holocaust was a hoax? Even the Germans cop up to it.

a lot of extreme right wing parties and anti-jews in all the wolrd...and also some cristian and muslim extremist.

I don't know, i've never been to one but i wouldn't doubt some of it was a hoax. i'm not saying it didn't happen, i know it happened but i also don't believe everything i hear/see/read. but then again i find it funny that you can ask anyone how many Jewish people died in WWII and they'll tell you straight up 6 mill, but can't even tell you how many Americans, Germans, or Japanese died. don't take offence its just a generalization.