Holocaust Memorials
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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Shoes on the Danube bank
The shoes on the Danube bank are Holocaust memorials in Budapest, inaugurated for the 60th anniversary of the 2nd World War. This unique memorial's creator was Can Togay film director, and his co-creator was Gyula Pauer, Kossuth-prize winning sculptor.
It's a memorial to those who where shot into the Danube by the members of the arrow cross army
They can be found on the Danube bank between Széchenyi István Square and Kossuth Square.
for more information on this unique memorial: http://jewish.hu/view.php?clabel=cipok_a_duna-parton
Andrea
Budapest, Hungary 09/10/2012
Shoes on the Danube bank
The shoes on the Danube are a unique memorial honoring the victims of the Holocaust. They can be found on the Danube embankment in the Downtown area of Budapest.
It was created for the victims' memory who had been shot into the icy Danube by the Arrow Cross army.
The memorial's creator was Can Togay film director, and his co-creator was Gyula Pauer, Kossuth-prize winning sculptor.
He designed 60 pairs of cast iron shoes faithfully representing that age. There is a 40 meters long, 70 centimeters tall stone pew behind the shoes, which is attached to the stone of the bank edge.
It is located between Széchenyi István Square and Kossuth Square.
for more information about this memorial and other important historic sites visit: www.jewish.hu
Andrea
Sarasota, FL USA 09/06/2012
Rome's MuseoEbraico
My family and I were wandering around Rome when we came to MuseoEbraico, Rome's Jewish museum. We then spent a good few hours taking in the incredibly story of Rome's Jewish community from the early days until the present.
We are not Jewish, but found the history absolutely fascinating, and written in such a way as to be easy to understand. There is a portion of the museum dedicted to the Holocaust, as well as the forced migration of Libyan Jews to Italy in the 1960s.
We spent so much time at the museum that we missed seeing the Colloseum. But it was well worth it. The museum is on Lungotevere Cenci in Rome.
Simon Hayes
Sydney, NSW Australia 06/10/2012
Musee de la Shoah, Paris
The "Memorial de la Shoah" was consecrated in January 2005 on the site of the "Memorial to the Unknown Jewish Martyr" at 17 Rue Geoffroy L'Asnier. It is flanked by a 'Wall of the Righteous' and is near the Marais. Simultaneously a memorial and a resource for documentation, this powerful place helps find those lost during the Shoah, while also bringing many of the 76,000 deported individuals and their community back to life. For more information check out their website at www.memorialdelashoah.org or an article I wrote about it in jewishjournal.org.
Linda
Reading, MA USA 02/27/2012
MAUTHAUSEN MEMORIAL
MAUTHAUSEN MEMORIAL: There seems to be a lot of questions from travelers on how to get here. On our recent trip we took the train to the small town of Mauthausen. Within walking distance of the train station (or the station master will call a taxi) is a charming area of restaurants, B&Bs, and a tourist information office across the highway from the Danube River. We stayed at The Traube Guesthouse, which was reasonable, clean, and comfortable and English speaking. They arranged for a taxi to take us to the Memorial, watched our bags while we were there. Then we had the receptionist at the Memorial call a taxi to take us back to the guesthouse to retrieve our luggage and drop us off back at the train station for our onward trip to Vienna. Worked very well and the Memorial is definately worth visiting.
PAT HILL
LINDSEY, OHIO USA 10/22/2011
Holocaust Memorials
I toured Mauthausen with the Rick Steves G,Swit,A tour several years ago. It's something you never forget. If you're ever in Boston, walk through this: http://history1900s.about.com/od/holocaust/a/bostonholocaust.htm
The numbers etched, rising to the sky along with the eerie steam - the quotes along the path all create a stark sensory experience.
Jean
Mill Creek, WA USA 10/19/2011
Holocaust Memorials
Visiting Oradour sur Glane in France was chilling. The town was left exactly as it was after the Germans came in and executed every man, woman and child and then set it on fire. A well- designed museum provides background information prior to your visit to the town. The bullet holes are still in the buildings. Some of the homes have memorials with pictures and dates of the occupants. The cemetery is filled with graves with the same date of death.
Carol S
Sedro-Woolley, WA USA 09/29/2011
Jewish history in Europe
European Jewish history dates back to Roman times, and there is a lot more than just the ovens of the camps. But most guide books largely ignore memorials to the pogroms and synagogue destruction, many of which are somewhat hidden in German cities (for example) but can be found for the asking, and many of those have not been erected until quite recently (e.g. Munich and Rothenburg ob der Tauber).
Randy
Portland, OR USA 08/31/2011
Auschwitz/Birkenau
I've been to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and State Museum near Krakow twice in the last four years. The authenticity of the facilities is amazing. I recommend taking a tour. There is too much to learn by trying to walk Auschwitz and take in everything yourself. There are guides available who speak every language. And please don't miss Birkenau. I tears one's heart out to see the way the Jews and Poles were made to live before they were exterminated. This was the most meaningful part of the museum to me. It's a quick 5 min. ride from Auschwitz.
Kathy Kouba
Naperville, IL USA 05/11/2011
Kamp Westerbork - Netherlands
Just a correction - the name of the Nazi transit camp in the Netherlands is Kamp Westerbork. It's located between the towns of Westerbork and Assen, very close to Hooghalen. It's worth a visit, as is the concentration camp in Vught which is a bit southwest of the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch.
Michael
Yardley, PA USA 12/23/2010
Schindler's Factory
Schindler's Factory in Krakow was an unexpectedly amazing museum. I thought it was going to be a small museum mainly about Oskar Schindler. But I would say it's focus is about the Holocaust in Krakow. Lots of multimedia instead of just reading panels on a wall. It's new and not in a main area of town, so it takes a bit of hunting to find (the tourist map of Krakow isn't very helpful). From what I read about it, I thought I would take about an hour to get through, but I actually took a few minutes over 2 hours and could have spent longer, if I had found it earlier and hadn't been so beat from walking around earlier in the day. Also, it is open later than most museums. Highly recommended.
MD
The Island, Canada 10/03/2010
Kamp Westbork
Just got back from a day out to Camp Westbork in the Netherlands. Truly an amazing experience. They feature: a memorial center, a walk around the camp with tour guide, barrack 67 where Anne Frank stayed before being transfered to Bergen-Belsen, and the house of the Camp Commander. when I went it wasn't open to go inside, but it's currently being renovated. Very interesting tour.
Kat
CHICAGO, IL USA 09/21/2010
Dachau
I highly recommend the Dachau concentration camp near Munich as a place that evokes the horror of the Nazis. It is maintained as a free memorial by the Bavarian government. Get the audioguide, which costs only a few Euros and includes incredible amounts of information, including the testimony of many survivors in their own languages. This is a big site with a large museum so don't assume you can rush through it. Go on a cool day if possible since the former barracks area is open to the sun.
Fred
East Lansing, MI USA 07/19/2010
Dachau
I just got back from a week in Munich and I took a guided tour to Dachau. It was a powerful experience and well worth the time. My Rick Steve's guide was a great help.
Stacie
Richland, WA USA 06/15/2010
Mauthausen
The tour of Mauthhausen was very moving and thought provoking. It took me right back to my 9th grade history class. It's one thing to read about it in books or watch on TV, another to see the barracks, The Stairway of Death, gas chambers and cremation chambers in person. It was one of the worst places in the world, but I'm glad I got to see it. Everyone should go, I hope never to see one again.
Claudia
Crystal Beach, FL USA 06/13/2010
Breendonk
Visit the Breendonk Concentration Camp/Memorial near Brussels if you are in that region of Belgium. It's well done, reasonably priced with an audioguide for the tour to allow you to set your own pace. Allow 2-3 hours.
M
Norfolk, VA Belgium 05/13/2010
Berlin memorial/Auschwitz
The memorials that stand out for me were the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin and Auschwitz. The day we visited Auschwitz was, appropriately enough, rainy and dreary, and the displays of the personal effects and especially of the 7 tons of women's hair left a lasting impression on me.
Mike Lanski
West St Paul, MN USA 04/28/2010