Auschwitz and Birkenau, Poland

[Mick Findlater]

This place is very hard to put into words.

There is just a sense of unspeakable evil...


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a3/Micksphotos/polAw.jpg
Auschwitz

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a3/Micksphotos/polAw3.jpg
Execution Wall, Auschwitz

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a3/Micksphotos/polAw1.jpg
The end of the line inside Birkenau...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a3/Micksphotos/polAw2.jpg

[peterst6906]

It's a very sobering place and I think you've captured some places within it that have particular significance.

Regards,

Peter

[Helen]

Very moving photos, Mick. Very thought provoking. Aside from what I learned in History at school, my mother recounted small pieces of when the Nazis invaded Holland. She was just a young lass then, but would never elaborate on what her family went through. I can only imagine. :(

[jurujoh]

Thanks for posting these very confronting photos. I am not too sue about the selective colour but I do see what you are getting at.

I used to visit a Doctor here (quite a number of years ago), who had a concentration tattoo on his arm. His wife (receptionist), said he was in Auschwitz. He was a political prisoner, a German who had just qualified as a surgeon. He refused to not treat the Jews, so they mangled his hands and put him there. Not being Jewish helped him survive. His wife first met him when he was convalescing after the war and she recounted the number of jews who would visit him and thank him for the minimal care he was able to give them, while in Auschwitz.
He was a very small, quiet man and it was an honour to know him.

I have never been there, so thanks for showing these.

Jules

[bushanwater]

These are photographs of a place I have heard of but could only ever imagine. Your photographs can only help to show people like me how heartless some humnas have been in the past so that we can stop anything like this happening again. Photographs with a message are true art. Photographs with a message like these are priceless art. Well done..

[Mike]

you've captured the eerie feeling of the place, I'd like to see the plaque as a smaller image at the bottom and maybe some framing

[busiboy]

Well done. very well captured, I like the selective colour myself. Shows the only bit of non evil.

[Bri]

Would have to agree with all thats been said.....very moving.

The atrocities that happened in that place should never be forgotten, nor should the amazing stories of bravery and humanity that those who survived can recall that arose from such barbarianism acts.

The most sobering thought is that man still hasn’t learned the lessons he should have from events in history like these, and terrible things as genocide or mass murder is still going on today.

Brian

[Mick Findlater]

Thanks for looking.

"I'd like to see the plaque as a smaller image at the bottom and maybe some framing"

Yeah I could have done that, but I wanted to show it as it is, a plaque laid into the cobble stones.
There are about 20 of them, all the same in different languages.

[Arun Nicklen]

Very hard to comment, great photo's though. Very mood inspiring.

[wallyir]

If the purpose of a photogragh is to inspire,horrify or cause one to think on a subject that they ordinarly wouldn`t,these do that,Fantasic and emotive images. Wally

[woolly]

And to think that those perpetrating such attrocities were "Only following orders". Just goes to show the depth of "mob" mentality though.

As Brian stated, it is amazing that genocide and mass murder still occurs in various countries today. And not necessarily third world countries either. Germany certainly wasn't a third world country in the 1930's-40's when carrying out their diabolical acts of barbarianism.

I hope the "monuments" depicted by Mick are maintained forever, to remind the world of the attrocities committed. However, although the world has become a much smaller place in the last 50 years, I think that there will always be "charasamtic" despots that will lead their idiotic disciples to commit horrendous acts upon their fellow man.

Just goes to show how stupid the human being can really become. Thank god we live in a "lucky country", originally colonised by convicts!

[nikon picturelady]

I am truly lost for words after reading every comment on here. I echo every sentiment. I am pleased that we are not letting these atrocoties be forgotten with the passage of time. Humanity needs to remember and learn from it....

Well done on capturing the mood of this place.

[Papou]

Would have to agree with all thats been said.....very moving.

The atrocities that happened in that place should never be forgotten, nor should the amazing stories of bravery and humanity that those who survived can recall that arose from such barbarianism acts.

The most sobering thought is that man still hasn’t learned the lessons he should have from events in history like these, and terrible things as genocide or mass murder is still going on today.

Brian


So so true but alas History has a habit of repeating itself..And yes it has happened and will happen again in the future..We DONT LEARN from the past is the sad part..
What frightens me so much is one of the so called findings of or for the "Kioto
for climate change" was population!!..Its said the world is vastly overpopulated!!??.
So few with so much and so many with so little..
Photos like that should be portrayed more often as a wake up call that evil should not be tolerated..
Whats the old saying about "evil thrives when good people fail to speak"..
I was drawn to these Photos and did feel sadness..
Well done..

[Analog6]

"This place is very hard to put into words. "

Your photos say it all far more movingly than any words - lest we forget, indeed.

[Dragonfly..shotz]

The selective colouring of the flowers left to remember is one of the best and most suitable that I have seen using this technique. Powerful images Mick.

[robertdownie]

Nice shots. I like the barbed wire shot the most. Not so keen on the one with the flowers; as I am more of a realist.

Keep up the good work.

Rob

[GroovaImagery]

Great pics. Black and White shots do it justice. Fantastic capturing.

Very grim and evil place, not that I've been there, but I have been to the other place called Dachau in Germany.

Just sinister what they did there.

Here's a shot that I took entering Dachau.

Cheers for sharing. Hope you don't mind me adding on your post.

[NatMarie73]

These are indeed very moving photos that portray a sense of hopelessness and grief. I like the selective colours of the flowers, and I found the end of the line photo to be very effective in portraying what the prisoners must have felt.

I've never been there myself, but my sister has and she said it was the most thought provoking place she had ever been to.

[Bindii]

Its all been said... the first one gave me goosebumps..