Holocaust Memorials: 2007
There are many WWII & Holocaust memorials/sights in Europe (e.g. Dachau , Anne Frank's house). They provide travelers powerful opportunities to learn from the greatest horrors of the 20th century. Share your experiences and suggestions so others can heed the wish of the the victims of the holocaust…that we never forget.
Please Note: This topic was previously known as "Nazi Sights."
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Dachau
I went on my most recent Contiki tour to have some fun, see Europe and let loose. What I wasn't expecting, was to be moved in a way I have never experienced. We had the opportunity to visit Dachau. The thing that sticks out most in my mind was how recent it felt to be there, in Europe you see all of these ancient things, but WWII is not that far in the past. Our tour manager gave us each a stone from the yard and told us to take it out when ever life gets too tough, to remind us that those that have gone before us had much worse. This made me realize how important it was for me to have our tour manager to help us get the most out of Europe, check out contiki.com for other great features!
Caitlin <email>
Columbus, OH USA Thu 12/13/2007
Shoah Museum in Paris
The Shoah Museum in Paris is near the Hotel de Ville and not far from rue des Rosiers and the Jewish History Museum. In an outside courtyard there is a wall with names of French people lost to the holocaust. Inside the museum there are written records, photos, videos in French, memorabilia, etc. One could easily spend a whole day there. It is used as a research center. The museum was free when I was there in early May 2007.
Swan <email>
Napa, CA USA Sun 09/23/2007
Paris Memorial
When in Paris go to the memorial just behind Notre Dame Cathedral. It is beautiful, moving and very accessible.
suitable for even children that may find deathcamp memorials too much.
JS
USA Fri 08/24/2007
My Whole trip to Europe was planned on visiting as many Holocaust Musuems & Memorials as possiable. We visited three different countries, but my favorite place would have to be Sachsenhausen. Being able to visualy see barricks, the morgue, and touch the experimentation tables was too real. Visualizing what so many went though is touching. It's about 30 mins outside of Berlin, if you have the chance I would definitly recommend seeing it!
Ashley
Rome, GA USA Thu 06/07/2007
Holocaust memorials
Dear Ricksteves Friends,
I am a local tourist guige in Hungary, organising private tours with my car/minivan. I had a chanche to have a look in the book "Best of Eastern Europe 2006." This is a fantastic book but not many information about Jewish Budapest.
Here will you find the 2nd largest Synagogue of the world, Monument of 600,000 wictims of the Holocaust in Hungary (Tree of Life -Emanuel Foundation), Monument for Raoul Wallenberg, here was born Theodor Hertzl, there is a shokking new Holocaust monument at the Danube riverbank: Shoes of the Jews killed in the river, New Holocaust Memoril Center (Pava Str.)and the Terror House Museum. For details, please write me and I will give you all information.
Andrew Illes <email>
Budapest , Hungary, USA Fri 04/13/2007
Mauthausen
Justin,
I agree with your opinion. My husband and I are about to plan our 4th trip to Europe and have seen numerous Holocaust memorials: Dachau, Mauthausen, Anne Frank house, Holocaust museum in DC, etc. And we were more affected by Mauthausen the most. We both literally wept. Everyone needs to visit one so that these lives were not in vain. History does repeat itself and we maintain a "blind eye" it will occur sooner rather than later. Also important to remember, that there have been many cases of similar genocide throughout many countries in Africa ever since. As long as we live in this world there will always be a fight of good vs evil, humility vs. pride, and love vs. hate. No country, race, or people are exempt of that possibility. I often think of the many great spirits, hearts, souls, and minds, that never came to be due this.
Amy <email>
Edmond, OK USA Thu 02/15/2007
Haarlem Site
There is a tribute to the ten Boom family in Haarlem, just a short distance from Amsterdam. The shop and home of watch repairers was used to hide Jews and resistance workers. The movie "The Hiding Place" tells the family story. Books by Corrie ten Boom are available in libraries and Christian bookstores. It is an uplifting visit.
Ann
Exton, PA USA Wed 02/07/2007