Auschwitz...

[lspencer534]

Recently, a drone flown by the BBC was flown over the remains of Auschwitz. This was one of the most infamous concentration camps from WWII and the release of the footage is timely, as the 70th anniversary of the freeing of the Auschwitz camp occurs this Tuesday. The footage is haunting and a somber reminder of the hate and violence that once pervaded the world.

The footage begins by following the train tracks into Auschwitz, immediately calling to mind for the viewer the trek that prisoners had to take to get to the camp. The train tracks lead into a huge encampment that, from a distance, looks like it could be an old college campus. As the drone flies closer to different building, it becomes clear that rather than a welcoming school, this was a place of great pain and sadness.

Many of the oldest huts are now left in ruins. The large barracks that housed thousands of prisoners still stand, and the snow covered desolation calls to mind all of the worst atrocities that occurred there. One cannot help but be transported to the horrors of war, knowing that this enormous group of buildings was used primarily as a death camp. Each of the buildings tells its own story; there is the entrance, the unloading ramp, the women’s camp, the men’s camp, and specialty areas of Birkenau.

These special buildings were typically reserved for prisoners deemed unfit to work. For Nazi prisoners, this meant these individuals were sent to death chambers. Throughout the facility, there are numerous buildings that housed those destined to die in the immediate future. There bodies were frequently brought back to be housed among living prisoners until disposal of the bodies became available. Perhaps most disturbing is the images of the children’s barracks. Children at Auschwitz were almost all summarily executed via lethal injection, but in their time before death they were housed together in one small unit.

The images revealed by the BBC’s drone are disturbing. While one can walk into Auschwitz and take a tour, these bird’s eye view pictures give a sense for the enormity of the atrocity taking place. It is a very large campus, which reinforces the severity of the crimes committed there.

YouTube (Short URL)

[Barn Babe]

Wow. No words.

[joecaver]

much larger than I would have imagined it to be.

[CubSmurf]

Originally Posted by joecaver

much larger than I would have imagined it to be.

That was my thought too. Damn that was a massive complex, seeing it like this really puts it into perspective.

[ApexOversteer]

A million people exterminated in 4 years. If you could work you worked until you couldn't anymore. If you couldn't work, you were simply exterminated. Children by lethal injection. Adults by gas.

Over the years it was active, the camp was staffed by thousands of Nazis, very few of whom were to see consequences of their actions, less than 1 in 10.

[04 commemorative]

My great uncle Mac..(and godfather) was one of the liberators of Auschwitz.

[Mike Mercury]

near the end of the war (as the Russian front was starting to collapse)... Hitlers generals told him they needed more trains & trucks to take supplies to the German soldiers; the troops were running out of food and ammo. Air drops were not enough.

The only transportation available to use for this were the trains & trucks that were taking the Jews to the camps. Hitler said he would not reallocate these resources; that the Jews persecution was paramount.

serious

[63C2splitter]

Originally Posted by 04 commemorative

My great uncle Mac..(and godfather) was one of the liberators of Auschwitz.

Was your Uncle Mac in the Soviet Army?

[Dan Dlabay]

I have been to that place and it is very sobering. Makes you wonder how can people be so inhuman towards other people.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Dan Dlabay

I have been to that place and it is very sobering. Makes you wonder how can people be so inhuman towards other people.

Did it look like the drone video?
Did it seem really big to you?
Geez, that's one place that I'm going to avoid, but if I'm near there, will probably force myself to go to.

[Dan Dlabay]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

Did it look like the drone video?
Did it seem really big to you?
Geez, that's one place that I'm going to avoid, but if I'm near there, will probably force myself to go to.

Can't really say how big it is because after about 45 min. we had to leave because it was just to heart wrenching knowing what happen there.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Dan Dlabay

Can't really say how big it is because after about 45 min. we had to leave because it was just to heart wrenching knowing what happen there.

Damn...

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Jeff '79

Did it look like the drone video?
Did it seem really big to you?
Geez, that's one place that I'm going to avoid, but if I'm near there, will probably force myself to go to.

According to what I see on the TV they had dozens of those camps.

Wholesale death factories. When I lived in Albany in 50-60s we had a family down the street that if the war had lasted only a couple weeks more would never have made it. They all had the arm tattoos!

[Superstreet]

Originally Posted by joecaver

much larger than I would have imagined it to be.

Sadly, at it's peak, there were over 20,000 concentration camps.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by ApexOversteer

A million people exterminated in 4 years. If you could work you worked until you couldn't anymore. If you couldn't work, you were simply exterminated. Children by lethal injection. Adults by gas.

Over the years it was active, the camp was staffed by thousands of Nazis, very few of whom were to see consequences of their actions, less than 1 in 10.

I believe it was 6 million.

[ApexOversteer]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

I believe it was 6 million.

Yes, we all know the total number, I was referring to Auschwitz alone.

That's 685 people every day for the four years the camp was open.

[Iron Chef]

My Mother and Grandmother spent 2 years as prisoners in Auschwitz. The rest of my Mother's family were killed by the Nazis.

I know she left part of her soul there.

[Jeff '79]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

My Mother and Grandmother spent 2 years as prisoners in Auschwitz. The rest of my Mother's family were killed by the Nazis.

I know she left part of her soul there.

Wow.....

[TabuIsMe]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

My Mother and Grandmother spent 2 years as prisoners in Auschwitz. The rest of my Mother's family were killed by the Nazis.

I know she left part of her soul there.

My grandfather was a survivor.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Dan Dlabay

I have been to that place and it is very sobering. Makes you wonder how can people be so inhuman towards other people.

Sheer stupidity, most likely from inbreeding, like mozzies.....