7

Alright, so today was…hard to describe. Cole and I ventured out to the far, far reaches of Berlin, to what we would described as a “shady area,” if you know what I mean. We were on our own with sparse directions and a dismal destination. Though, the ex-concentration camp, Sachsenhausen, was not too hard to find from the bahn station, and after a bit of walking, we approached large, concrete walls expanding far off to the left and right of us.
Once through the Information building, we took a long walk along the outside walls on Camp Street, leading up to the entrance of the camp. Then, once through the barbed-wire fringed gates, we observed the command headquarters. First, before continuing, I will say that Sachsenhausen was the first concentration camp established. Built in 1936 from the remains of a prisoner camp, it was a model idea for the rest of the Nazi regime to follow, even offering, three years later, the first ingenious idea of a crematorium (that was sarcasm, of course). Even before the camp was turned into a means of distinguishing unwanted races, it was a horrific torture sight where prisoners of war were taken. The land has an eerie feel and one cannot help but feel disgusted. It’s one thing to learn about this in history class, but to be there, walking around in the vast opening where they would hold roll call three times a day, was haunting. We even had the opportunity to enter into the barracks and see the cramped quarters where hundreds of people lived and suffered. The bathrooms were small—far too small for the inhabitants. There were probably ten toilettes in the tiny room, one right next to the other, void of privacy and space. Guards would use the toilets as a method of murder even, sticking an individual’s head in the bowl until they drowned. Also, in the entrance of each barrack, there was a small closet used for storage of brooms, mops, ect. It was said that men were stuffed in there as punishment, one on top of the other until they suffocated. Standing before the door, I had chills.
When I really stop to think about where I was today, I feel empty and an irrepressible amount of nothing enters me. My fingers can’t seem to find words. I feel as though I cannot do justice to the events in history that marked Sachsenhausen with such tragedy. Though such tragedy is inexplicable and tragic because it is indescribable—such inhumane atrocity cannot be accounted for; the darkness of a human mind is so dark, understanding cannot be seen. So, I will leave it at that.
I am happy we went, however. The only good that came from it is a strong tug of compassion.
Anyways…tomorrow we go to Paris! I am unsure of the internet situation at Nicolas, but I’m sure it will work out fine. So hopefully we will talk to you there…!