A Somber Morning at Dachau
We knew the morning of this day was going to be a difficult
one for us all. Together with Keith and our local guide Ian, we entered Dachau
Concentration Camp gates where thousands of innocent people lost their lives or
were exposed to terrible brutality weighed heavy on us – especially seeing the sign
on the gate “Arbeit Macht Frei” meaning work makes you free - was very moving. Yes, we saw the gas chambers and the crowded
barracks and heard the stories from our personal guide but what stood out to us
above all was a simple statue of a single prisoner, head held high, hands in
pockets, and feet apart standing in complete defiance! If prisoners would have actually stood like this at the
camp they would have been shot because they were ordered to stand in submissive
positions. However, now the statue declares
freedom for those imprisoned. The
inscription stated, “in honour of the dead and a warning to the living”. The atmosphere on the bus was a little more
subdued as we processed what we had experienced during our tour. As we quietly discussed our observations
between the two of us in our seat we established that change starts with the
individual. I have been warned! Change
starts with me! No Old World Charm here
just memories of the dear ones who suffered and those who lost their lives.
Somber Moments at Dachau
We leave our theme here at Dachau and instead of highlighting old world charm we chose instead to contrast a lie and a truth. The lie which greeted the prisoners of Dachau as they entered the camp "Arbeit Macht Frei" contrasted with the truth of the memorial statute which proclaims human dignity to all. May we never forget.