The Dachau Concetration Camp: Memorials

Reflection was needed during and after our visit to make sense of what we had seen and learned.  As it stands today, the camp is preserved as a lasting reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and as a memorial to those who lost their lives there.  It exists as a cautionary tale of what could happen if power is left unchecked.  It reminds us of the destructive effects of fear and hatred.  It reminds us to study history to protect our future.  

There are several memorials and places for reflection in the roll call area.  This sculpture, as mentioned in the video from a couple days ago, was created by a Yugoslavian survivor of Dachau.  It depicts prisoners jumping or falling into barbed wire.  Some prisoners resorted to this to escape the terrors of the camp.  This memorial was dedicated in the 1960s.  

 
In the Jewish faith, it's customary for visitors to leave small stones on graves. I read a little bit more about this custom here and here.  This gesture meant a lot to me.

"Think about how we died here."  

Memorials surround the crematorium. The ashes from the crematorium were buried in piles behind the building and in the nearby wooded area.  Memorials mark the ash pits and the execution range.

"Over six million Jews fell victim to the National Socialist (Nazi) reign of violence." 

The Jewish memorial, set behind the prisoners' barracks, is a place for quiet reflection. 
There are also Catholic and Protestant memorials, and a convent with a chapel is also located on site. 

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With everything going on in the world, take a moment and reflect too.