Quote Originally Posted by truthpaste View Post
Can I ask you (and others here) if they have visited Auschwitz and Birkenau and:

1. Did it alter their perspective on what happened back then?

2. Did it leave them feeling that people who could visit these places should do this at least once in their lives?

3. Did the experience change their opinion on what evil could look like?
Interesting questions.

1/ I've never been to Auschwitz. But I have been to Dachau, which was the first camp the Nazis used and remained a concentration camp throughout the war. I guess it did alter my perspective as standing where history has happened is always a powerful and emotive thing for me. I've been to the Normandy beaches and seen where Anne Boleyn was beheaded etc. I really do feel the power in such places. That said, WW2 has been a life long interest so I don't think I had to visit a camp to feel that. I will visit Auschwitz one day. I also want to visit Treblinka which as I referenced yesterday is where I think humanity was at its most evil. I'm not sure why I want to visit but I feel like I want to pay respects in some way and as it was such a secret place I feel like visiting empowers the victims somehow?

2/ Yes, although I must say I don't think people should "do Auschwitz" like people also "do the saltmines" or "Do the old town" when they go to Krakow. I think people should read about it first to fully respect it.

3/. I've always appreciated the Nazis were amongst the most evil regimes in history and that this was most on display in the camps.