Historical sites to visit for Holocaust Memorial Day

January 17, 2019

 

Historical sites to visit for Holocaust Memorial Day

On January 27th, countries all over the world commemorate the liberation of the largest concentration camp operated during the Second World War – Auschwitz-Birkenau, as well as the devastating impact felt by the affected communities. It’s an event that can make a trip to Germany and other significant sites around Europe worthwhile so you can see and experience these poignant stories and places up close, and hopefully gain a deeper understanding of the events.

 

Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum – Oświęcim

Roughly 30km outside of Katowice is Oświęcim, also known in German as Auschwitz, and is arguably the most famous landmark associated with the Holocaust. A visit to the remains of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is essential in coming to terms with the events that transpired during the Holocaust. Today, the site acts as a monument and a stark warning to the world, as well as hosting a number of exhibitions to provide additional context and contemporary relevance.

 

Holocaust-Mahnmal – Berlin

Near the Brandenburg Gate, you’ll find 2711 ‘stelae’ – concrete monuments – arranged in a grid formation to represent the millions of Jewish lives lost over the course of the Holocaust.  Although the artistic interpretation of the site has many different readings, with the creator of the memorial stating there was no specific symbolic significance to the design, it’s impossible not to feel the emotion and the importance of the 3 million names of Jewish Holocaust victims inscribed underground beneath the site.

 

Anne Frank House – Amsterdam

Immortalised in the pages of “The Diary of a Young Girl”, the Anne Frank House sheltered its author – Anne Frank – and her family in secret for two years during the German occupation of the Netherlands. The building was saved from demolition back in 1955 and later converted into a museum so people could understand what the living conditions were like for Jewish people in hiding, although Anne mentions in her diary that the house was considerably better than other hiding places she had heard about. The exhibition now housed here gives a more personal view of the persecution faced by Jewish people at the time, offering a solemn glimpse into the life of Anne Frank herself. Taking one of our ferries to Holland can give you a practical option in reaching Amsterdam, allowing you to explore the city and pay your respects at one of the most tangible sites linked to the Holocaust.

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