May 12: Today is a day I have been looking forward to but was not sure what to expect. We took a trip to Dachau to see the first concentration camp from WWII. While I have been to a few historical museums, the Holocaust Museum included, I was looking forward to standing on the ground where history was made. The replicas of the original buildings are open to walk through, and our tour guide has been a historian and guide for 30 years. He took us into the recreated barracks where hundreds of prisoners would sleep in at once. There were only a couple of troughs in the “bathroom” where they all had just a few minutes in the morning to use. What was most interesting about Dachau was that it was not created for the Jews. This camp was not an execution camp either but meant for German politicians whom Hitler disliked. The picture below is a wheelbarrow that prisoners used to transport the dead bodies.

There is so much more to say about the camp, but it is truly something that every person should experience for themselves. There were movies playing, artifacts, and so much to read inside what used to be the administrative building and kitchen. We ended the afternoon early with a discussion about what we saw. My mind was stuck on how much guilt the Germans feel about the Holocaust. Our tour guide explained how important it is for Germany to educate their youth, so history does not repeat itself. I wonder what it would be like to live in Dachau, or anywhere near a concentration/extermination camp, and constantly be reminded of the awful history there. It is somewhat similar to living in the south of the U.S. and being reminded of slavery from landmarks. I really enjoy history and learning more facts about what really happened in both of the world wars.

After a heavy morning, I took some much-needed personal time at a cafe – reading, writing, and having a pastry. I feel it is important to recharge after going through something so emotional. Since it is Mother’s Day, Augsburg was buzzing with people. I was so relaxed just observing others with my coffee and book in hand. The second and last week is about to begin and I am trying to take every day one at a time so I can remember and appreciate more. Our last company visit is tomorrow at Audi, so I want to be well rested and see how they differ from the 3 previous companies we toured.