This is one of the rooms that the Nazi officials built just for the Red Cross to see. The room was a fully functioning barber shop. The Jews were never allowed inside of it though. Once the Red Cross came in, took a look around, and left, the Nazi officials locked this room up so nobody would ever actually use it. Now I could tell you many stories about what happened in Terezin, but one has just stuck out to me. Three men actually escaped Terezin successfully. These men were smart and jumped into the canal while it was raining, therefor the rain would cover up their tracks. The Nazi officials went to go look for them, but they were never found. For all anybody knows they could still be living. Aside from these three lucky men who made it out from Terezin a couple of others did not have as much luck. Three other men tried to escape at night. One was caught and shot while climbing over a wall. Another was caught running outside of the wall, brought back in, and was asked to choose a random soul to be shot with them. Even though the other person did not do anything wrong. The last was pulled back inside as well. The Nazi official told the entire cell to stone him till he was dead and if they did not do what he said then they would be shot. I understand this all is pretty sickening, but this was nothing compared to Auschwitz.
On a happier note a couple of days later we took a day trip to the home of where the Duke once lived. We had to wear these weird slippers over our shoes so we could preserve the floors... I had this theory that they just wanted us to wear them so we could polish the floors for them and they didn't have to do it. (: Anywho, after the home we made our way down to the winery. This winery is the second largest winery in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. We were able to see where the wine is made and were able to do some wine tasting of what they had to offer. The walls were absolutely disgusting.. They had mold growing all over them, but this was a good thing for those that worked in the winery because mold meant the proper amount of moisture and the proper temp. to store the wine. My favorite wine that we tried was a Sauvignon Blanc.
A couple of days later we took of for our trip to Poland. This trip was a five hours bus ride, so we got plenty of sleep in for the day. Our first stop was to an iron industrial distribution center.
This is called the elephant. The elephant is a dust collector to put into easy terms. It basically makes sure that the iron is clean.
This is the inside of a furnace that was once used to heat the iron. No worries! The furnace is non functioning and is only used for tours now. After the industrial distribution tour we set off for a salt mine. Poland is known for three things Vodka, Pirogues, and Salt. I was able to take a tour of the inside of a Salt mine that used to be fully functional. The floors were salt, the ceiling was salt, the statues were salt as well! I only have one picture because we weren't allowed to take any.
On our last day in Poland we went to the Schindler's factory. Schindler was this amazing man who took in thousands of Jews to work for him. If you don't know the story I will give you some detail. Mr. Schindler is a part of the Nazi Party and figures that we can start his own business in enamel wear for very cheap because he can hire the Jews and not pay them in money. He would pay these employees in items for them to trade or eat or keep for themselves. as he starts to build his business ad as he realizes what is going on he starts to hire more Jews to try and protect them. He built the Jews their own barracks and order the guards to never step foot into it. He then started to build weapons for the Nazi army, but purposely made them inactive. This way the guns wouldn't shoot when they wanted them to kill a Jew. I watched a small film in his factory when we visited and the Jews said that this was like a haven compared to what others were living in.
This museum was one of the best put together museums that I have ever been into. Mr. Schindler was a great man and I recommend visiting his factory if you ever have the chance too. Later that day we made our way to Auschwitz. Please bare with me as this is one of the most heartbreaking places I have ever been to. Auschwitz had 3 main camps. The torture center, killing center, and industrial center with 45 other satellite camps around. We visited Auschwitz one and Auschwitz two Birkenau. when we first walked through the gates Arbeit Macht Frei my heart sunk. This means work makes free.
Our first stop was in one of the barracks to see some of the left over items that they have found after the war. they had rooms filled of shoes, little kid shoes, glasses, pots, brushes, and the one that got me the most was hair. I wish I could show you a picture, but out of respect nobody took a photo of the hair. I still remember seeing one little girls braid in the mass amounts and all I could think to myself is why... Around the corner we saw what they used a lot of people's hair for. they used the hair to make rugs and blankets out of. Just thinking about this makes me sick.
We then made our way to the torture poles and execution wall. The Jews would get undressed have their hands tied behind them and then hung them by their wrists till their arms were dislocated. Now if you don't know already those that were handicapped were inable to work and were the first one killed.. These people that they tortured were now labeled as handicapped and were sent to the execution wall or gas chamber. The execution wall was where a Jew stood up staring at the wall and was shot with one bullet in the back of the head. The wall is now a memorial for all of those who died there.
Our next stop was to the place where Rudolf Hoss was hung. He tried to flee after the war, but was caught and hung right next to the gas chambers where he killed millions of Jews.
This is the inside of the gas chamber. I couldn't spend much time inside because I just felt sick to my stomach about what went on inside. In these gas chambers they would pour a chemical called Zyclon B from the top of the chamber to the inside. The chemical caused the respiratory system to shut down and suffocate them. One can equals 700 Jews. now after you see the pictures you can see many cans that are empty.. 700 Jews per one can, I still cant get over it.
We then moved on to the killing factory in Birkenau and it wasn't what I thought it was going to look like. Majority of the camp is non existent because the Nazi officials didn't have an escape plan when the war ended. They tried to blow up the gas chambers and barracks to get rid of the evidence, but instead it just made a mess. The hardest part was seeing the railroad tracks coming into the camp and to see the actual cart of where they were stuffed in. All in All Auschwitz is something that I believe everyone should go to witness, but it is one place that I will never visit again. It is hard for me to think that these tour guides work where main people were killed and tortured and that somebody has to come in and mow the lawn where main Jews died. I just pray that something like this will never happen again and I hope that those who where killed here are now in peace.
Now I could say much more, but I feel like my post is already super depressing. Be on the look out for my final for the blog. It will be me answering main questions like what was my favorite things and what I wish I would have done differently. No worries though it wont be my last one. I still have many other adventures to come and tell you about!
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