Dreams, Disneyland, Paris.
The Eiffel, the Mona Lisa, Paris.
Cafes, Bars, Cabarets, Paris.
Fashion, Fireworks, Fountains, Paris.
Museums, Paintings, Palaces, Paris.
Romance, Lovers, Paris.
Never ending, meandering Metro stations.
Kaput transport passes, jumping the turnstiles.
Hostel room, cramped loo, expenses.
Tired companions, irritations.
Eccentric French, eager tourists.
Maps, maps, maps.
Ice creams, Coffees, Indian restaurants.
Spring, flowers, cool breeze.
Queues, Cramps, Cruises.
Touristy, hectic, return promises.
My trip, Paris.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Dachau
The Nazi Concentration Camp that became the proverbial hell is just outside of Munich. This was the first concentration camp that came into existence immediately after Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1932. It was used as a prison for all political opponents and Jews, but went on to serve as the basic model for all concentration camps that were created across Europe during the Second World War. It was also the only camp that lasted all through the Nazi years, till it was freed by the US forces in 1945.
Today, the camp has been converted into a museum and a memorial for all that went wrong. The museum is very informative. It describes in detail, through visual aids, how the post World War 1 Germany was, what conditions augured so well for Hitler and his Nazi followers, the propaganda that they used to get the masses hooting for them, the atrocities that they carried out once in power.
Some of the artifacts leave you chilled to the bone – the pictures of skeletal prisoners, the details of the experiments conducted on human beings, the methods used by SS guards to earn brownie points – leave you wondering how could this have happened to ‘civilized’ people.
My trip left me more informed about a subject that I am getting more passionate about – the History of the two world wars. I try and understand how the ‘democratic’ Germany of post world war one went into recession and utter chaos and how Hitler used his charisma to lead otherwise ‘cultured’ people into such hitherto unheard acts of hatred against their fellow citizens; and I try and draw parallels of how could this happen elsewhere – may be in India where current political leaders use similar tactics to herd massive support.
I reckon India is too divided and too massive for any one issue to unify the country for such acts of hatred. Plus the leaders are not as charismatic any more – but you never know!
Today, the camp has been converted into a museum and a memorial for all that went wrong. The museum is very informative. It describes in detail, through visual aids, how the post World War 1 Germany was, what conditions augured so well for Hitler and his Nazi followers, the propaganda that they used to get the masses hooting for them, the atrocities that they carried out once in power.
Some of the artifacts leave you chilled to the bone – the pictures of skeletal prisoners, the details of the experiments conducted on human beings, the methods used by SS guards to earn brownie points – leave you wondering how could this have happened to ‘civilized’ people.
My trip left me more informed about a subject that I am getting more passionate about – the History of the two world wars. I try and understand how the ‘democratic’ Germany of post world war one went into recession and utter chaos and how Hitler used his charisma to lead otherwise ‘cultured’ people into such hitherto unheard acts of hatred against their fellow citizens; and I try and draw parallels of how could this happen elsewhere – may be in India where current political leaders use similar tactics to herd massive support.
I reckon India is too divided and too massive for any one issue to unify the country for such acts of hatred. Plus the leaders are not as charismatic any more – but you never know!
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