Man’s Inhumanity to Man, Dachau July 19 2017

I feel that a little backstory is necessary. Sometime between 1974 and 1976, The World at War first aired on American television (PBS I think). Remember, at this time, most households had one TV, so you watched what was on. Well, Dad wanted to watch The World at War, so we all watched. Dad also bought the Encyclopedia of World War Two, and a series of WW2 cards that explained every weapon, battle, vehicle, and personality. I read all of it, more than once. Dad seemed obsessed with WW2, none of the other wars, just WW2. Was it due to that fact that he was a Marine, or the solid German ancestry? I’m not sure, never asked, and he never told.

Fast forward to 2017, while I’m planning a vacation to Germany. A trip to Dachau was one of the first stops on the list. I’ve seen the pictures, and read the stories since I’ve been 11 years old. I still watch The World at War. No problem seeing some history….. Wrong! While the pictures were not new, the camp not complete, the story unfolds in the museum, and the visitors cry. It’s an unbelievable feeling walking through a place of such horror.
Here are the pictures.
Entrance

Work sets you free.
gate

Building

Main building

The map of the camp system, with all of the sub camps.
camps

poster

wall

poster

sculpture

never again

Guard tower

Entering this grass lead to being shot.
kill zone

barrack floors

There are now a Jewish Memorial, Catholic Chapel and Protestant Church
synagogue1

synagogue2

synagogue3

Catholic1

Catholic2

The Crematorium Area
crematorium area

Decontamination Chamber
crematorium area2

There was a “shower” that was never used.

When the old oven could not keep up demand,
crematorium area3

Four new ovens were constructed.
crematorium area4

crematorium area5

Germany in reverse

So, I’m sure by now, you have heard that Lorraine and I took a trip to Germany. Well, here are some photos. I’m going in reverse, so you will see the end of our trip before the beginning. As a side note, I forgot the usb cable for my camera, or you would have seen these photos near real time.
July 20. Our final stop was at the Marienberg Fortress high above Wurzburg.
As we walked up the hill to the fortress (yes it’s always uphill), and made our way to the gategate, the rain began. Yes, we were amazed at the workmanship of the gate, considering it was built before modern tools and electricity. Amazingly, we hadn’t seen anything yet.
For five Euro each, Lorraine and I spent over 2 hours look at paintingpaintingafter painting painting2, after painting painting3. These paintings ranged in year from 1460 to 1870. The pictures do not do them justice, they were amazing.
There were household sculptures sculpture and sculpture and painting.
There were garden sculptures sculpture and sculpture
We admired some amazing furniture furniture and marveled at how much time had to be spent on each piece furniture. The detail of each piece was unbelievable furniture.
I could have taken 700 photos in this place, but then i’d have to go through them all when I got home.
Two other interesting photos for now, one we have no idea unknown and Lorraine’s favorite, one of many grape presses grape press

Let’s Add Some Photos

Anna Miller Geary
Earl Geary
Anna, Beth and Earl Geary
Anna Miller Aug 14 1924 (6 mos)
Anna And Clarence Miller (50th Anniv)
Anna And Clarence Miller (Wedding)
William and Eva Bitzer
Edward and Laura Geary
The Luckenbills (Benjamin F. Luckenbill backrow Right end)
Laura Martz Geary (younger)
Elmira Zeigler Miller
George, Edward and Sarah Geary
Laura Martz Geary
Frank Miller
Elizabeth Luckenbill Fenstamacher
William Fenstamacher
Kramers Top: William, Mary (Miller), Frank Bottom: Rebecca, Annie, Wm. Monroe

Death Certificates