Poland. A place of history. Also, memory and pain. Memory and pain not only of Poland, but the world. Every day there are less and less holocaust survivors, so the memory of the horrific event needs to live on through others who can teach and stop this from happening again.
I have now been in Poland for over three days. In terms of time this does not sound long. However, time is not about the seconds, hours, days or even years, it’s actually about how much knowledge you gain. The amount of knowledge I have gained about the holocaust has been more these past 3 days then what I have learned about the holocaust my entire life. From seeing actual places where cruel things once occurred, to both the fascinating and awful stories of real life events. To the people here with me who have shared their knowledge, broadening my own. Even just the aura of Poland, of what once was, leaves an impact of knowledge to be gained.
Hearing, reading and seeing the stories and testimonies of the people who witnessed the horrific event truly brings you to silence and utter awe. It is interesting because most assume it was just the Jews who were targeted, even I thought that was for the most case. But the reality is that so many different type of communities were threatened, starved, slaved and killed. Even people who were not Jewish but seen helping Jews were killed brutally.
Today, June 25th, we witnessed unjust and inhumane acts that once occurred in the Majdanek Camp. The horrors of the Treblinka Camp was all in imagination as the Nazis destroyed the camp before it could be preserved. Majdanek, on the other hand, was almost all still intact showcasing all the horrors within. As we drove past the forest and then straight into a mass land filled with barracks of the camp, I shook with fear. Moments of silence and awe rushed through my body as we walked through the gas chambers, trying to understand how anyone could suffer like this. The camp had an eerie feeling as we walked through it. I do not know if it is always so windy at Majdanek, but today was filled with winds that pulled you off the ground. The wind felt like it was the victim’s pain and suffering trying to escape. Then there were the crows. Screeching and screaming as if it was the victims of the camp crying out. These outside feelings and noises made the camp feel dark and somber. It filled me with terror as I walked through the camp. Though scary, it is necessary to know, feel, and understand. Our world is always constantly changing, and this horrible change here in the late 30s early 40s massacred so many. It is important to remember so that we can find ways to prevent these things from happening in the future.
The “story” of the holocaust is not just a story but was a REAL event that needs to be remembered and should be understood as a form of pain. As a student at Duquesne University studying International Security Studies and International Relations has given me the opportunity to learn about the best ways to approach international and national scenarios and find ways to stop events like the holocaust from happening again. I am appreciative of the opportunity to be on this trip and ready to learn more the rest of the week.