Auschwitz, Is this true???

[EmersonBigguns]

No worries, mate. I didn't take anything personal. Everyone's experience is unique and I realize and respect that.

I'll get the pictures up as soon as I can. Work as usual is getting in the way.

[plant-pilot]

The first time I visited Belsen it was miserable November afternoon in the early 1980s and I left with the impression that the place was dark and devoid of all life. I have since been back on several occasions which were coincidentally warm sunny summer afternoons. Although I still felt the dark mood of the place the place was green, bright and far from lifeless.

I saw the same effect, in a single afternoon at Buchenwald when a dull and wet visit changed into a sunny afternoon. The effect each person experiences is built on many things, including preconceptions, time of year and the weather. At least that is my humble opinion.

[lancesergeant]

The taking of photographs in itself is not a bad thing. It is the context in which they are taken and the intention of the photographer. The taking of some photos (without flash, I hasten to add) with the right attitude help the photographer later to reflect at a later stage with sombre intrespection/reflection of what they have seen. A reminder.
There are times to contemplate the extent of the human destruction. When one is back in their comfortable domain, they can look back and it will reinforce the experience. In this context I personally think this is paying sincere respect, not the focus of some macabre holiday snaps.

Personal decency should be the deciding factor in the matter. If I visited said sites I may take a few photos only or perhaps none at all. If other visitors are blatently showing a disrectful attitude, then they should be informed of their ignorance and if they wanted to carry on - be forcibly ejected from the site. Might not be good for PR, but it would give them food for thought.

[chipmunk wallah]

Not to disagree out right but I myself would say the taking of photographs would be an aid to show to people who have never been to these sites a token idea of the horror. I rather imagine that,like myself,those of us who have actually been there dont need such visual reminders. It has been 5 years now and I can still smell the cold damp of the cellars in block 11 and still clearly picture the pile of childrens shoes and cans of gift gas.

[Zoya]

It has been 5 years now and I can still smell the cold damp of the cellars in block 11

Block 11 was a very dreadful experience for me, quite rightly so.
I came out into the sunlight (very hot August day) but didn't really stop shivering after that.

[Panzerschreck]

I was visiting Auschwitz - Birkenau in the summer of 2005, and I can confirm that I didn't see any birds or other types of animals there. What the cause is, I don't know, but I can confirm that I didn't see any animals.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Well there are 2 schools of thought here: The "Humanities" group which believes that nature is affected by evil and will not go near it and the Sciences School which believes that nature is nature and that evil is not something that it notices. This massive chasm between the two schools has never been breached and will continue to rage across these boards for many, many, many years to come.

[Owen]

the Sciences School which believes that nature is nature and that evil is not something that it notices.

Well I am firmly in that camp.
Must visit Auschwitz one day.
Think I'll wait until the children are older.
Welcome to the site Panzerschreck.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

The Sciences people are also Eggheads who wander around in Lab coats and appear on programs like this:

YouTube - Look Around You - 1 - Maths

[Panzerschreck]

Thank you Owen D. I really think that you should visit Auschwitz some day, it's worth it!