KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau

Or for the non-German readers:  Dachau Concentration Camp

Not really much I can say that hasn't already been said about concentration camps during the 1930's through 1940's.  So this post will be image heavy and I loaded the pictures as large as I could so you can see what I saw.  I want to share what I got to see while visiting Germany.  I will add a few little bits of information and translation but for the most part this post will be mainly pictures.  

***Warning: Some of these pictures and descriptions may bother you so before continuing on, you have been warned.  This was not a pretty time for humanity!*** 

Giant plaque by the bus stop on the way to the visitor center before getting to the concentration camp.  TIP:  Get the audio guide at the visitor center, it is worth it!  The audio guide is 3.50 Euro.  You will also need to leave your ID or passport as deposit for their audio guide.

Aerial map of the concentration camp.

The plaque above is on the wall just before reaching the gate below to enter the concentration camp.

'WORK MAKES YOU FREE'

The foundation for the concentration camp barracks.  In the distance you can see some reconstructed barracks.

Guard Tower

Small foot bridge over the Würm river that leads from the main part of the camp to the Crematorium and Russian Orthodox Chapel.

Russian Orthodox Chapel

Rough translation (If you find a better translation don't hesitate to tell me.  My German is not the best):  'With the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Alexij II the chapel was built 50 years after the end of World War (II) to commemorate the Russian countrymen who under the Nazis suffered death in the concentration camp.'

My guess is that the plaque above reads the same as the previous one except I assume this one to be in Russian.  They are on either side of the entrance to the Chapel.

Memorial Stone - 'CREMATORIUM     THINK OF HOW WE DIED HERE'

Monument to the Unknown Prisoner.  Inscription: 'TO HONOR THE DEAD  TO WARN THE LIVING'

Outside view looking into the gas chamber.  You can't see the shower heads from here but you can see the drain on the floor.

This little chute is where the poison pellets were dropped into the gas chamber.  They then fell out of flaps inside at the bottom of the chamber.

 

Stairway to the canal path under the incineration room.

Entrance to the path below the incineration room.

'FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND HONOR THEY DIED'

This was on the back side of the Crematorium.  I have no idea what it is and there was no explanation or plaque near by explaining it.  Anyone have any idea what it is?

The view behind the Crematorium.  It was eerily quiet, probably because it was rainy out and no one was around.

Inscription:  'DO NOT FORGET'

Protestant Church of Reconciliation

 Alter in prayer area.

 Sylvia lighting a candle in the prayer area.

I think it translates as: 'REFUGE IS IN THE SHADOW BENEATH YOUR WINGS'
You get the idea though.

Catholic Mortal Agony of Christ Chapel

Carmelite Convent

Jewish Memorial

Inscription: 'MEMORIAL OF WARNING TO COMMEMORATE THE JEWISH MARTYRS WHO DIED IN THE YEARS OF THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST RULE OF TERROR 1933-1945.  THEIR DEATH IS A WARNING AND OBLIGATION FOR US. ERECTED BY THE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ISRAELITE CULTURAL COMMUNITIES IN BAVARIA IN THE YEAR 1967'

Items left by a touring group to honor the victims of Dachau.

Inscription: 'OVER 6 MILLION JEWS FELL VICTIM TO THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST VIOLENT REIGN'

Beds.  If you can even call them that.

Another guard tower.

Former maintenance building which now houses exhibits, seminar rooms, library, theater, archives and offices.

International Monument with sculpture by Nandor Glid.

 The cornerstone of the International Monument reads: 'THIS FIRST STONE OF A MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF NAZISM WHO DIED IN THE DACHAU PRISONS IN THE YEARS 1933-1945 WAS SET HERE ON 9 SEPTEMBER 1956'

Sculpture representing the unity among the prisoners.  The symbols represent the various types of badges worn to classify prisoners.

By Holocaust survivor David Ludwig Bloch

Translation: 'BEATEN TO DEATH      SILENCED    THE HOMOSEXUAL VICTIMS OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM        THE GAY INITIATIVES MUNICH 1985

Sorry for the photo quality.  It started raining and I was shivering cold: 'THIS MEMORIAL IS DUE TO THE INITIATIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DACHAU COMMITTEE IT IS DEDICATED TO THE THOUSANDS OF MARTYRS WHO DIED HERE - VICTIMS OF THE NAZI TYRANNY IT WAS UNVEILED ON THE 8TH SEPTEMBER 1965'

'NEVER AGAIN' in 5 different languages.

Well I hope you enjoyed the pictures.

If you have any questions or comments about any of the photos don't hesitate to leave me a comment.  Sorry it took so long to get the pictures posted from the trip but it was a very somber experience.  Going through the pictures and translations brought it all back to me.  This is one place I will never forget having visited for the rest of my life.