The Holocaust - What I learned in Poland

I will preface this post with a warning that it is not a happy one, and if you are looking for something light-hearted then I suggest you skip this particular post.

I'm enrolled in a European genocide class for which we took a one-week trip to Poland and visited the Chelmno and Auschwitz camps. The class has been incredible, and I have learned a lot. The trip was definitely emotionally heavy, but it was worth it. We saw a lot, but I will cover a handful of things that have really stuck with me.





Approaching Auschwitz II - Birkenau, I could feel how imposing it was. It has the grandiose, highly organized structure you would expect from the Nazi regime.

We got to see one of the transport cars that took prisoners to the camps. The door came up to my shoulders; I can't imagine how terrifying it must have been to be told to jump out of the car without stairs.

We went inside a reconstruction of the crematorium in Auschwitz I, and saw the remains of the crematoriums in Auschwitz II, which were blown up by the Nazis as they retreated from the camp.

The cans of the gas Auschwitz used, Zyklon B

Most of the human ash was dumped in a nearby river. Some of it, however, was dumped in small ponds within the camp. Thriving on the nitrogen-rich deposits, these ponds are now lush, green habitats full of frogs. There is something truly beautiful in life taking back the area in the face of so much death.

Pile of shoes

One of the most difficult things to see was the exhibit of all the personal effects, especially the shoes. There were two massive piles of shoes. It put it into perspective just how many people were imprisoned and died in Auschwitz. 

Overall, the trip was eye-opening and informative. It wasn't easy to see the camps and hear all of the stories from my teacher, but I am very glad that I took this course. I feel like it had a positive effect on my life and my personal growth.