sachsenhausen
While in Berlin, I thought it would a good idea to see another concentration camp. I plan to see only one more camp after this; Auschwitz. Camp Sachsenhausen is 35km out of the Berlin. It was built in 1936 as the 'model' camp. All precise geometry, clean lines, integrated security systems, teutonically efficient, etc. Himmler was very proud of it. Like Dachua, the available literature rarely agrees on the number of people murdered but a figure of 40,000 is the average, out of a passing population of 200,000 (1936-1945).
Because of its proximity to Berlin, it was first used as a centre for disposing of the political enemies of the nazi's, mainly communists. Then it spread to the other impure/untermenchen groups that we all know. I learned of more techniques employed by the SS. There is a circular 'shoe testing' track where some poor b*stards would have to walk endlessly around in circles for days, on pain of death. The unfortunate prisoners wore ill fitting, uncomfortable shoes and were told they were testing different shoe sole types for the military.
The SS had a 'sport' session where malnourished inmates had to jump on one foot, fall to their knees, squat and hop and so. If the prisoner failed to keep up with the impossibly rapid commands, they were beated senseless. Most were slave workers, forced marched up to 20 km a day to their place of work. They had to sing songs en route. Imagine it when you barely have energy to walk, to work, to breathe and then have to sing songs! They passed through towns and villages. Of course, no one knew what was happening in the camp! These are but some of the things I learnt. The horror, the horror.
I know I made a big deal of the teenager laughing in the gas chamber at Dachua. I found another example here. A Chinese girl, short, ugly, in her twenties. I saw her dancing and singing a child-like song while her mate recorded it on a digital camera. It was the kind of dance you would see on an weekday afternoon children's programme. This performance was much appreciated by her mates who all had a good old laugh. All I could do was shake my head in disgust.
The musuem authority tried to plant some trees in the compound as a rememerance some years ago. The problem was that the feet of so many unfortunate souls pressed the soil so tightly that the roots couldn't burrow and take hold. It is cursed soil, the soil of the dead.
So, my dancing queen, please skip, hop and laugh. The soil under your joyful dancing feet holds the tears and blood of countless numbers of people who never found Sachsenhausen to be a place of such hilarity.
Because of its proximity to Berlin, it was first used as a centre for disposing of the political enemies of the nazi's, mainly communists. Then it spread to the other impure/untermenchen groups that we all know. I learned of more techniques employed by the SS. There is a circular 'shoe testing' track where some poor b*stards would have to walk endlessly around in circles for days, on pain of death. The unfortunate prisoners wore ill fitting, uncomfortable shoes and were told they were testing different shoe sole types for the military.
The SS had a 'sport' session where malnourished inmates had to jump on one foot, fall to their knees, squat and hop and so. If the prisoner failed to keep up with the impossibly rapid commands, they were beated senseless. Most were slave workers, forced marched up to 20 km a day to their place of work. They had to sing songs en route. Imagine it when you barely have energy to walk, to work, to breathe and then have to sing songs! They passed through towns and villages. Of course, no one knew what was happening in the camp! These are but some of the things I learnt. The horror, the horror.
I know I made a big deal of the teenager laughing in the gas chamber at Dachua. I found another example here. A Chinese girl, short, ugly, in her twenties. I saw her dancing and singing a child-like song while her mate recorded it on a digital camera. It was the kind of dance you would see on an weekday afternoon children's programme. This performance was much appreciated by her mates who all had a good old laugh. All I could do was shake my head in disgust.
The musuem authority tried to plant some trees in the compound as a rememerance some years ago. The problem was that the feet of so many unfortunate souls pressed the soil so tightly that the roots couldn't burrow and take hold. It is cursed soil, the soil of the dead.
So, my dancing queen, please skip, hop and laugh. The soil under your joyful dancing feet holds the tears and blood of countless numbers of people who never found Sachsenhausen to be a place of such hilarity.
posted by Ciarán at 8:59 p.m.
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