Here are a few pictures from our trip to Munich. I highly recommend visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp if you’re ever in the area. The neuschwanstein castle is nice too, however we don’t have many pictures from our visit there because they don’t allow cameras inside. Munich was a blast… can’t wait to return.
The gate leading into the concentration camp in Dachau. ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ basically means ‘work will set you free’. A lie to keep the jews in line.
Propaganda. Hitler’s party used it incredibly well. This poster says:
“Our last hope, Hitler”
Scary…
A depiction of life in camp. Drawn by an unknown prisoner.
I found this particularly haunting…
Part of a monument near the crematorium. The picture doesn’t do it justice… the light streams in through the opening at the top and literally illuminates the enclosure with its glow.
An oven in the crematorium. By the end they were stacking two & three bodies a time in the ovens in an attempt to keep up with the ‘exterminations’.
One of many ceremonial ‘ash’ graves. The ashes of thousands of people were dumped into several shallow pits.
A small russian church on the grounds of Dachau… I loved its size & structure.
A butterfly or moth just outside the church. It seemed hopeful in such a sad place.
Now, to switch gears…
On our way to the neuschwanstein castle we passed the most beautiful lake. Had to stop & photograph it. The water was so still it was a mirror reflecting the clouds. I also love that you don’t see any signs of civilization in this shot.
Neuschwanstein castle off in the distance. Walt Disney really did model Cinderella’s castle after this one… the likeness is impressive.
Castle walls… gives you an idea of how tall it actually is.
One small part of the castle not overrun by tourists. Trying to get a shot without a hoard of strangers in it is next to impossible.
Closeup. By the way, the construction of this castle began in 1869.
Beautiful waterfall & bridge directly across from the castle. We wanted to walk across the bridge, but both girls adamantly refused.
Many additional photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/euroshots/sets/72157594197838449/show/
Ahhh, the Lechtalbrücke. I had to make a stop there on my way to the castle as well… just beautiful. I’ve been to Dachau three times, but I must say that the KZ Buchenwald near Weimar was much more “impressive” than Dachau, which was a relatively small concentration camp. But still, Dachau is terrifying enough.
Hi Sven, how’s the new job? I’ve never heard of KZ Buchenwald, but now that I know it exists I need to go.
The job is fantastic, thanks for asking. Unfortunately I have four more months until the end of my probation (already planning my vacation though).
It’s been 12 years since I visited KZ Buchenwald, but if I remember correctly the concentration camps in Germany were mostly for political prisoners (socialists, communists etc.) and other nazi regime enemies (more like labour camps). So, if you you really want to get an impression of what the Holocaust was like, you have to visit the camps in the east, especially Auschwitz (an extermination camp) of course.
http://www.buchenwald.de/
http://www.auschwitz-muzeum.oswiecim.pl/
Yep, we plan to visit the extermination camps in auschwitz & majdanek in late October. I’d like to see as many camps as possible though… especially the obscure ones.