Dachau prison camp

The Nazi camp at Dachau, Germany was a large facility that originally included an armament factory, SS training and barracks, Gardens and a wild life park (suspected for the entertainment of the troops). As the war expanded it was converted in 1933 to a work camp designed to furnish workers for the armaments factory, eventually becoming a concentration camp for political prisoners. Dachau was the first concentration camp set up by the Nazis and served as a model for subsequent camps. . The actual concentration, prison, area was relatively small, about five acres (see the colored area in the photo ), but became the focus of the camp.  Designed to house barely 5,000 prisoners it was reconstructed around 1937 to house 6,000 prisoners.  At the end of the war there were estimated to be 32,000 prisoners (in the camp designed for 6,000) who greeted the liberating US army forces in 1945.  Over 230,000 men and women were "processed" through Dachau during the 12 years from its opening.

This road was the path to the main gate. It ran from the train siding where prisoners were deposited to the camp, about 3 km. 

The entrance building to Dachau prison. The gate through which prisoners walked  contained the phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei"  (Work makes (you) free). The original gate was stolen a couple of years ago and has not been replaced.

Once inside prisoners were stripped of all personal belongings and given uniforms.  Each person was identified by a number and a cloth badge sewn on to their uniform.  The color and shape designated the type of crime and other information. A complete explanation can be found  here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_concentration_camp_badges

All of the original barracks have been demolished.  Two buildings have been reconstructed to show the conditions faced by inmates.  These bunk beds were designed for one person; as many as six or seven would eventually share one.

Lockers were provided for inmates to keep their uniforms and such, however these were often used as a means to afflict torture. Items not place in properly would result in beatings, taking too much time to store uniforms before shower would result in more torture.

Barrack X was constructed toward the end of 1943 as a place for exterminations. there is no record of it ever being used.

The sign over the door reads "Shower"

Inside the "Shower" were fake water outlets and real outlets in the walls for Zyklon B gas.

Crematories were positioned and designed for easy access and  rapid use.

the memorial to the unknown prisoner. His stance is one showing several violations which would result in beating and torture by the guards. slouching, hands in pockets, coat not buttoned and not looking down were all reasons for beatings and other torture.

This grave site contains the ashes of thousands of unknown victims.

While Barracks X was never used, Dachau did have a well used crematory. Prisoners would be required to work here and when they no longer could, they would be killed.

In addition to the barbed wire fence, there was an electric fence and this grassy moat area. If a prisoner would step int this area they would be shot.  Many purposefully would walk on to the grass to end their pain.

All that remains of the 34 barracks are these concrete foundation outlines.

Aerial photo of the barracks after liberation on April 29, 1945.

Photo taken on the day of liberation.

Memorial work done by an artist who survived Dachau.  the colored triangles represent the various groups confined at Dachau. 

A continuation of the memorial created by a survivor.  the angled concrete pylons represent the fence that surrounds the compound while the stylized people are the inmates.

In the old administration building there is this map of the camps and prisons of the Nazis. The dark names are the larger camps while the many smaller ones are the feeder camps that would act as work camps or killing camps.  The breadth and scope of these operations is beyond anything I ever learned in school.

Display of the origins of the inmates at Dachau. the total number of inmates housed at Dachau changes as new documents are uncovered and deciphered.

There are four religious buildings erected on the grounds of Dachau. Each is dedicated to those who suffered because of their faith.

The Protestant chapel is open for prayers and holds a small conference room.

The Catholic Chapel is dedicated to the many priests who were captured and held at Dachau. Dachau was where most Catholic priests and clergy were held.

The Jewish memorial leads the visitor below the grade level of the camp to a place of prayer and meditation.

Russian Orthodox Church memorial chapel is the last one to be built.

Every day at 11:00 am this bell, erected by survivors from Austria,  rings in honor of the victims of Dachau.

Two bronze plaques hang at the  entrance of the camp reminding visitors of the US troops that liberated the camp.

If you have read this far I will impose on your time and share my thoughts on this visit. The brutality and torture inflicted on those who were here far exceeds my earlier belief.  Documents in the museum spell out terrible acts inflicted upon the prisoners. That one person can inflict such horror on another defies humanity.  The grounds of Dachau concentration camp are now sterile in appearance and evidence of the events has been mostly cleansed.  The written, often jumbled, memories of survivors and the neatly detailed German ledgers of prisoners form polar extremes. The lost lives are an extreme tragedy and should never be forgotten.  Another tragedy in my estimation, (not equal to the torture and killing but nonetheless a tragedy),  is the lost humanity of those who were the guards and overseers. The fact that anyone can be led, convinced, coerced, fooled or otherwise moved to act with  such extreme brutality and evil against another human simply, solely, because of their religion, politics, or sex should, indeed must, force each of us to examine our own beliefs and actions.  Today we are seeing ideologically based events and rhetoric  which mirror those of decades ago.  We need to learn from and not repeat this history. We must not.