Wow Sage…just wow. The picture of the shoes really hit a cord with me as when I was doing my presentation in University, I used the concept of shoes to demonstrate what I had learned about Auschwitz. All the students were instructed to place their shoes when they entered the hall in a pile at the front. I then proceeded to explain the meaning of that pile for the Holocaust victims. Seeing your picture and knowing you were actually there just amazes me. Thank you very much for the photos. I hope to get there one day…if only to pay my respects for all of those who suffered such a horrible death.
I actually used to live in DC and I visited the Holocaust Museum during my time there.
The curators did an amazing job of telling the story. I thought the Museum was more graphic than Auschwitz itself (of course I won’t see Birkenau until January).
I don’t think anything compares to the emotional experience of standing in the place where so much happened.
I didn’t fully comprehend the scale of it until I saw the piles of hair, shaving brushes, shoes, the neatly written records, etc.
Debbie says
Wow Sage…just wow. The picture of the shoes really hit a cord with me as when I was doing my presentation in University, I used the concept of shoes to demonstrate what I had learned about Auschwitz. All the students were instructed to place their shoes when they entered the hall in a pile at the front. I then proceeded to explain the meaning of that pile for the Holocaust victims. Seeing your picture and knowing you were actually there just amazes me. Thank you very much for the photos. I hope to get there one day…if only to pay my respects for all of those who suffered such a horrible death.
Sage says
Hi Debbie,
The shoes were very difficult to see. I wonder so much about the people who came with the shoes.
Why did they choose to wear that particular pair of shoes? What were they expecting when they left?
Why did some choose red shoes, high heels, or satin shoes? Were they hopeful, defiant, unknowing?
Which shoes would I have worn? There’s so much in those shoes…
~ Sage
Gracey is not my name.... says
Very powerful! If you ever to DC, you should go to the Holocaust Museum. It was extremely powerful and there were exhibits of shoes, etc..
Sage says
Hi (not) Gracey ;-)
I actually used to live in DC and I visited the Holocaust Museum during my time there.
The curators did an amazing job of telling the story. I thought the Museum was more graphic than Auschwitz itself (of course I won’t see Birkenau until January).
I don’t think anything compares to the emotional experience of standing in the place where so much happened.
I didn’t fully comprehend the scale of it until I saw the piles of hair, shaving brushes, shoes, the neatly written records, etc.
Thanks for commenting.
~ Sage