Westerbork

[gerbie]

Last week we were in Drenthe, one of the northern provinces of my country. We came through Westerbork and had to visit the World War 2 concentration camp. It is the most famous one in the Netherlands, the biggest one as well. 102.000 jews were taken here before continuing their journey to Auschwitz, Theresin or other camps, to be killed there. Anne Frank was one of the temporary inhabitants of Westerbork. Nowadays there is a museum and the former camp can be visited as well.

The picture is from the national monument there. The end of the rail track. Symbolic, every tuesday about one 1000 were selected and send onwards. Every week you knew your life could be about to end. In the meantime life had to continue, including school, sports and theatre.

After Sachsenhausen en Theresin this was the third time I visited a concentration camp. And every single time it completely draws me in. I can't talk for a while. Tears are pushing to find a way. How can mankind sink so low that things like this happen. Still happen actually. How can some people know about the existence of concentration camps and still treat others the way they do? It is difficult to stay optimistic about mankind after a visit like this.


The camp has its own site: Westerbork (also in English and German)

Comments

[enfantdenuit.livejournal.com]

I still want to do it. Go there. But not with my parents if I can help it. If I hadn't moved to Ausralia last year I would've been there too, on a school trip.

At school i'm doing the 2nd world war now. I was really looking forward to it- its so interesting. But it has a big focus on the Australian role in in, what really annoys me. Sure, they did something. They did declare war on Italy and Germany. But the main focus should be on where it happened. Europe. Germany. Countries near there.

They have that problem a lot in Australia. They're way too nationalistic (is that even a word?)

[gerbie.livejournal.com]

Don't underestimate the role of the Anzac forces. Especially in World War 1 they played an important part in the Allied corpses, they repeated that feat in the second World War.

Yes, they are Nationalistic (even chauvinistic), but that seems inevitable. Compare it to the USA, also very nationalistic. Countries that don't exist very long have that tendency. Most European countries have so much history, they know they will survive regardless, even be it under foreign rule. Compare it with our native country. It has been Spanish, French, German, semi-independent and completely independent during the last few hundred years. Oz only exists 106 years. They have to make for that.