| My ex wifes father was Polish, originally coming from a small village near Rybnik (Silesia). He was initially conscripted into the German army and served on the French Atlantic coast then was captured in Italy and eventually joined the Polish Army. He, like many Poles, never returned but kept in touch with his family.
He died in 1986 and we decided to visit my wifes relations during the summer of 1987.
We drove through Germany, then into what was then East Germany and through to Poland, quite an adventure then.
During our stay, which was really quite wonderful, we told our hosts that we would like to visit Auschwitz which is not too far from the village.
Rather reluctantly they agreed to take us.
My sons who were 7 and 10 at the time came too.
I was glad I went and I'm not sorry I took my boys, it didn't harm them and they can talk about it now with some first hand knowledge.
The reason for their reluctance? I don't know? However their home backed onto the railway line that lead to the camp(s) and later during our stay we were told that of course they knew what was happening all those years ago. One elderly relative told us of looking out of her window and seeing the trains go past.
I took time to go outside myself and spent a few moments looking along the railway line with my thoughts. |