Tag Archives: WW2

Poland

Birkenau death camp

We went to the Birkenau death camp after seeing Auschwitz  1 concentration camp. It was also a very emotional and somber place for us.

Ray and Shelley at the main gate of Birkenau Death Camp

Another part of the Auschwitz concentration camp was the expansion of the camp to create the Birkenau death camp. The Nazis began erecting this camp in the fall of 1941 in a village of Brzezinski, three kilometers from the Auschwitz concentration camp. The Nazis expelled the villagers and destroyed their homes to build the Birkenau death camp. This camp was designed for the mass murder of prisoners most of which were Jews.

The gate to the Birkenau death camp.

There is a railway spur which went directly through the gate into the camp. Prisoners referred to the Birkenau gate as “The Gate of Death”.

Railway spurs in Birkenau Death camp where prisoners were unloaded.

Prisoners would exit the train cars and this is where the Nazi SS physicians carried out their selection of the jews.  They determined which were for work, or sent for medical experiments and the remainder were sent immediately to the gas chambers. This included pregnant women and children.

We walked through the death camp looking at the train tracks and just couldn’t imagine the horror of what happened here. As we walked alongside the tracks, we came to a cattle car which was used to transport Jews and other prisoners here.

A cattle car used to transport prisoners to the death camp
Railway car used to transport Jews and other Prisoners to Birkenau Death Camp

At the rear of the train car was a small raised lookout which was used by a Nazi guard.

A train car used to transport prisoners to the death camp.

The size of the Birkenau death camp was much bigger than we expected. There were rows upon rows of chimneys and ruins from the prisoner barracks on one side of the main road.

The remains of prisoner barracks at Birkenau Death Camp
Area where prisoners where kept in wooden barracks

There were some wooden barracks that remained in part of the Birkenau death camp.

Prisoner barracks in Birkenau death camp.

We went into some of the existing prisoner barracks. The conditions were very harsh. It was hard to imagine the living conditions they had to endure.

Latrine used by the prisoners.
Bunks for the prisoners, eight prisoners to a single bunk.

We walked long the main road towards the back of the camp. As we approached the rear of the camp we could see a monument and some building ruins.

Monument at rear of the Birkenau Death Camp.

There were plaques in different languages which read

“For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women, and children mainly Jews from various countries of Europe”

The Nazis transported jews from many european countries to be murdered here in Birkenau.

Map showing the movement of Jews transported to Birkenau to be murdered.

After viewing the monument we went to an area with ruins at the far end of the camp. These ruins are all that is left of the gas chambers and crematorium used to kill approximately one and half million people, primarily Jews.

The entrance way which Jews and other prisoners would be lead to believe were showers.

They would walk down the long corridor to an area where they would disrobe and then enter a second room, which was disguised as a shower room. There they would be gassed to death and then moved to a crematorium room to be burned.

Remains of the gas chambers and crematorium at Birkenau death camp
Remains at Birkenau death camp
Gas chamber and crematorium remains at Birkenau death camp.

The size of the ruins showed the magnitude of the horrors that occurred here. After pausing to reflect on the site we were looking at, we began our long walk back to the main gate of Birkenau.

There were flowers placed on the train tracks close to where the gas chambers were. When you look down the tracks you can barely see the main gate of Birkenau in the distance.

Train tracks that stop at the gas chamber and crematorium area of Birkenau death camp.

We walked slowly back to the main gate contemplating the horrors and atrocities that occurred here. A very emotional day for us, but it is one time in history that no one should ever forget.

“do widzenia i dobry dzień”

Poland

Auschwitz 1 Concentration Camp

We went to the Auschwitz 1 site which is synonymous with the horrors of genocide caused by the Nazis. The emotions and feelings of sadness go beyond words.

The main gate of the Auschwitz 1 concentration camp displays the inscription “Arbeit Macht frei” (work will make you free)

Inscription above the main gate of Auschwitz 1

Walking through the gate at Auschwitz was surreal, trying to imagine how it must have felt for the thousands of Jews and others who were sent here. We walked through the rows of brick buildings that were surrounded by double rows of electrified barbwire fences.

Double row of electrified barbwire fence in Auschwitz 1

There were cases of some prisoners who were so distraught by the camp horrors that they would throw themselves “on the wire”.

Each building was identified by a block number.

We walked through several of the brick buildings and explored the inside.

One building we entered had on display hundreds of photos that were taken of the prisoners by the Nazis. Each prisoner was photographed, cataloged and identified by a unique number. It was quite sad seeing the fear and trauma visible on the faces of the prisoners.

Photos of the prisoners at Auschwitz 1 concentration camp.

We went into another building which displayed some of the evidence and photos of the horrible atrocities done by the German Nazis.  There where remains of clothing, shoes and other personal belongings which the Nazis gathered from the prisoners to use for the German war effort. Even the hair of the prisoners was kept and used for mattresses or made into blankets for the German soldiers.

Thousands of shoes of murdered prisoners

We went to another building, identified as block 11. This particular building was used for several functions. The Nazi SS imprisoned camp prisoners suspected of clandestine activities or prisoners who had attempted to escape. Prisoners in this block were sentenced to death in numerous cruel ways, including starvation or by firing squad.

Block 11, where prisoners were routinely sentenced to death.
Wall used by firing squad between Block 10 and Block 11 buildings.

We then walked to the far end of the camp to a small unassuming building. This building was the first building used by the Nazis as a gas chamber and a crematorium.

The building that contained the first crematorium and gas chamber at Auschwitz 1.

This crematorium was used from August 1940 to July 1943. It was calculated that 340 corpses per day could be cremated in this building.

The crematorium furnaces in the building containing the first gas chamber and crematorium.

By the time we finished walking through the Auschwitz 1 concentration camp we were emotionally drained. It was hard to imagine the atrocities that happened here and how one human could be so cruel to another human.

“do widzenia i dobry dzień”

France

Vimy Ridge

We went to see the Vimy Ridge Canadian Memorial, in France. As we approached the memorial we could see the outline and the massive size of the memorial.

Canadian Memorial Vimy Ridge

We arrived at the parking lot and could see the monument in the distance. We walked slowly along the path towards the monument and imagined what it was like at the battle of Vimy.

The view of Vimy Ridge Monument from the parking lot

Along the path towards the Monument, we saw a metal line which ran across the pathway and divided the landscape. It signified the Canadian front line during the battle of Vimy Ridge.

Line showing the front line of the battle of Vimy Ridge

The monument itself was very large and impressive with a beautiful white stone. It is made with limestone from an ancient Roman quarry located near Seget, Croatia.

Path leading to the Vimy Ridge Memorial

When we reached the base of the monument we could see the details in the statues carved in the limestone. The monument was carved from a single block of stone weighing 30-tonne. The massive height of the monument which is approximately 110 meters makes it an impressive sight. The two pillars of 27 meters ( 88.5 Feet ) looms high above the Douai Plain to the east.

Base of the two pillars of the Vimy Ridge monument

We walked around the monument looking at the carvings and statues. The colour of the limestone was a beautiful white and almost looked like marble. The statues were also carved in the white limestone which was beautiful. There were wreaths and flowers laid at different points of the monument.

Wreaths and flowers at the base of the Vimy Ridge Monument
Canadian flags and photos of soldiers of WW I on base of Vimy Ridge Monument
Statue on the Vimy Ridge monument

It was a humbling feeling to be able to physically touch the monument.

Ray, Shelley, Anne, and Jim at the base of the Vimy Ridge Monument

The feelings and emotions we felt while walking around the monument was a mix of pride and of sadness. It was a surreal experience for us to be at the Vimy Ridge Monument and a memory that will stay with us forever.

“Au revoir et bonne journée”

France

Amiens, France

We went to a beautiful medieval city in Northern France called Amiens. We were dropped off by our tour bus near the Gothic Cathedral.

Gothic 13th-century Cathedral in Amiens, France

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens is a 13th-century Gothic style Cathedral. It is the largest Cathedral in France and is a world heritage site.

Ornate arch above the main entrance to the Cathedral
Ornate design on Cathedral

We went to the main entrance and were amazed at the number of figures on the arch. Each one was unique and was made in great detail.

We went inside and check out the massive interior of the Cathedral.

Inside the Amiens Cathedral

The Cathedral was very impressive not only because of the size but also the beautiful decorations and stained glass windows.

The Altar in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens
Stained glass inside the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens

After seeing the cathedral, we went for a walk in the old quarter of Amiens. What is an interesting feature is the city is divided by the Somme River. Shops and cafes line the narrow street along the Somme River.

Cafes and shops along the Somme River in Amiens, France

We walked along the Somme river for a while and then stopped to enjoy a relaxing drink before exploring more of the city.

Ray, Shelley, Jim, and Anne enjoying a drink in Amiens, France

We walked along the narrow streets in the old quarter admiring the unique features of buildings.

View across the Somme River in Amiens.

While walking through the streets of Amiens we came across a group of Canadian cyclist wearing Canadian markings on their shirts.  We decided to stop and ask them about their shirts.

Cyclist wearing Canadian shirts in Amiens

They explained that they were cycling “the 2017 Vimy 100 Battlefield Bike Ride” which goes across a section of Europe touring WWII sites. They were raising money for the Wounded Warriors Canada charity. We had a nice chat with some of the cyclist, which were retired military personnel or spouses of Military personnel.

It made us very proud to be Canadian and to have the opportunity to speak to these veterans of our Canadian Military.

We then walked back to the park near the Cathedral before ending our time in Amiens.

Ray and Shelley in the park near the Cathedral in Amiens

We enjoyed our time in Amiens and chatting with some Canadian Veterans.

“Au revoir et bonne journée”

France

Bayeux, France

We stopped in the small historic city of Bayeux France. This city was the first to be liberated by the Allies on June 16, 1944, after the invasion of Normandy.  This is also where General Charles de Gaulle made the first speech in Bayeux in which he made it clear that France sided with the Allies.

Bayeux France

We walked through the center of the old medieval town looking at the cobblestone streets and timbered buildings. There was a quaint watermill which was still working.

A working waterwheel in Bayeux, France

We came to a medieval plaza which was also the location of the local Museum.

Plaza in medieval center of Bayeux, France
18th-century seminary converted into Museum

The museum was converted from an 18th-century seminary. We decided to enter the museum and view the famous 68-meter “Tapisserie de Bayeux”. It is an 11th-century tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman invasion of England. It was very interesting and each section of the tapestry depicted a scene of the invasion of England.

Scene 22 of Bayeux Tapestry.
Bayeux Tapestry depicting Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, rallying Duke William’s troops during the Battle of Hastings in 1066

Although we only spent a few hours in Bayeux, it was a very enjoyable and interesting city.

“Au revoir et bonne journée”