Day 17: The First Concentration Camp and Traveling to Prague

This morning we left Munich and made our way to Prague with two stops along the way, the first being the Dachau Concentration Camp that operated from 1933 to 1945. 

The camp was originally for political prisoners and priests, but also housed Jews as the war began in 1939.  We learned that this camp was the basis for all of the others that were later formed as death camps and work camps.  Dachau was a work camp so there was no need for gas chambers until the end of the war and the ones that were next to the crematorium were never used. 

(What was going to be a gas chamber, but the camp was liberated before it was used.) 

(The crematorium) 

Today there are only two barracks that are still standing and they only remain as a way to see what the living conditions were like for the prisoners of the camp.

The main museum is housed in the building that used to be the kitchens, showers, jail, and laundry room. As I walked through the museum and read about the beatings and hangings that had happened in its halls I was appalled and sadden that humans could do such horrible things to other humans.  

Today there are many different religious memorials to Jews, Catholics, Russian Orthodox, and Protestants that were victims and survivors of the camp. The main Jewish memorial building was very simple and inside at the base of the memorial was a single rose in honor of those who lost their lives in the camp.

There was also several memorials throughout the camp that stood as a reminder that we should not forget (or repeat) the actions of the Nazis.

I could feel the somber atmosphere as soon as we parked and I had to hold back tears as I walked through the camp and heard the stories of the victims and survivors.  It is really an experience that I believe everyone should have to be able

to really see first hand what the camps were like to realize that we can't let it happen again.  Unfortunately I felt that I didn't have enough time to explore the camp and fully experience it, I needed a day and we only had an hour and a half because of time constraints.  I did learn about 5 Fench women that were part of the resistance that bravely parachuted into the camp and unfortunately were killed by the guards in their attempt at liberation. 

I believe that we all need to be more like these women and the American soldiers that liberated the camp; being brave enough and strong enough and good enough to risk our lives for others. 

After the camp we stopped at the second stop of the day, a small town called Regensburg in Germany where we had lunch and saw the gothic-style church at the center of the city.

After our quick stop at the church and brief lunch we continued on to Prague. We ended up getting stuck for a bit in 5 o'clock traffic (I guess it is everywhere) and ended up stopping at a small gas station for a bathroom break and to grab a few snacks.  Then we continued on and finally reached Prague and got to our hotel.  The rooms are small, but very nice and the wifi is probably the best so far. 

Many of the people I'm traveling with went out to get dinner and walk around, but I decided to stay at the hotel to get to bed early and have some quality time with myself (everything so far has been done in a group and I've had hardly any alone time to rejuvenate and relax until tonight). I did find a little cafe by the hotel to get dinner, which was very good and super cheap.

Tomorrow we are going to get a tour of Prague and then spend the rest of the day wandering around and exploring. I can't believe we only have 2 weeks left and are already half way through the trip!