Treblinka was a death camp built 60 miles northeast of Warsaw, Poland. Its sole purpose was to murder. It was very small in size because it did not need space as 99% of those who arrived at Treblinka were dead within two hours. Treblinka had no "selection". The Nazis loaded 1900 carts of Jewish belongings in freight cars, which they sold, making 77 million marks from the Jews.
Frank Stangl's, Treblinka's head SS commandant, prime concern was to reduce the time it took between the arrival of the victims and their murder. At his trial after war, he bragged that Treblinka could murder 15,000 people in a 14-hour period. "I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty. My conscience is clear" (Stangl).
Jews had NO idea that they would be dead within hours. Like the victims of Majdanek, Treblinka's Jews were lied to. Nazis made false promises that they would be rewarded if they worked hard. They needed to delouse first and get their heads shaved. The guards would beat them to run faster. There was a purpose to this madness. They wanted the Jews to get out of breath so they would breathe in the poisonous gas deeper and die faster.
There are no pictures of the 10 gas chambers because they were destroyed before liberation. All that is left of Treblinka is fields, grass, trees, and monumental rocks to remember the victims.
An Israeli group of teenagers journey to learn and to promise NEVER AGAIN! Sad part is they needed an an armed guard to protect them.... antisemitism still exists.
The long rectangular benches by the trees represent the railroad tracks that unloaded the cattle cars from Warsaw. The Nazis made sure the Jews could not see too far ahead.....
1% of the Jews were not killed so that the Nazis could have the slave labor needed to bring the bodies to mass graves. The mass graves were overloaded and the camp was small. So the Nazis reopened the graves, removed the bodies, and burned them on a grill. Then, the Nazis removed the fat from heavier corpses and placed it onto the bones of the skinnier ones, so they could burn more efficiently!
Like Belzac, Treblinka honored its victims by erecting rocks/stones, not of their names, but of towns and cities they were from. Look at the THOUSANDS of cities/towns represented.
Few butterflies here....Instead they had BEES everywhere! They followed us, circling our ankles during our walk down the Black
Road, a trail that once led 300,000 Jewish people and Poles to forced
labor and death. I believed they might be eating the dead remnants of corpses. I felt nauseous the entire time....UNTIL....
I was the last one to the bus. I was hesitant to leave. I don't know if it was because it was the last concentration camp we were to see or because this was the concentration camp closest to my grandparents. I decided to make one more round through these rocks before I left, asking my grandmother to give me a sign...some kind of sign she was watching. She did. Her tiny, unknown town...Janow Podlaski...caught my eye. She was there among the 17,000 stones and rocks, telling me she was watching. I hope I make her proud.
I left the Israeli flag on the stone held down by pine cones. I was told pine cones represent life ....How fitting that they surrounded the rock. What wrapped me in comfort now shall wrap the victims in comfort. Now the Jews don't have to wander or remain in a state of diaspora. They have a homeland, Israel, somewhere Jews all over the world can feel safe and protected. NO ONE will take that away from us again...NEVER AGAIN!
This was the last picture taken. My journey is complete.
It brought me so much joy when i read that bit about your grandmother. I can't say I'm surprised that you asked her for a sign either. And you most definitely make her proud! No doubt about it.
ReplyDeleteI've dedicated my summer night to read this blog, and I don't regret it. I've learned so much more from reading this. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it and send it to us.
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ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had the opportunity to get a better insight of the concentration camps, especially the one that your grandmother was near. I agree with Emma that you made your grandmother proud! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe the way Frank Stangl behaved at the trial. No one should act proud of the ability to kill thousands of people a day, especially not at a court trial where he is being convicted for crimes and murder. It’s also unbelievable that any Nazi would ever say he has a clear conscience; it seems almost naïve. I found it sad that the young Jews who made the rock that says, “Never again,” had to have guards. The people who live in that area should be ashamed by what happened in the Holocaust, not continue to behave the same way as the Nazis! I think it’s amazing that you got a sign from your grandmother, especially in the last concentration camp you visited and the camp closely connected to your family. You definitely made her proud!
ReplyDeleteI was just talking to my dad and he has also been to Treblinka. He went with my aunt, his sister, and he said it was a powerful experience; how could it not be? I asked him if he remembers any bees there and he said there were lots too; I thought that was very interesting. It is so sad to hear that the group of people from Israel had to have a bodyguard to protect them, even at a concentration camp. After reading about your grandmother sign it teared up. It HAS to have been a sign for you to find her small town in the thousands of stones in Treblinka. I can’t believe that you found it; that is so awesome. It was worth being the last one on the bus to see her town on the stone. I’m so glad you ended your trip with wrapping your own protection on the victims for comfort. Your flag is the symbol to comfort for all the Jews; the comfort of having protection from a land they now call home. Also, how ironic to have pine cones surround the stones. Maybe the pinecones represent the messenger to life like the sunflower did for Simon. Overall this was a great way to end your trip and it was great reading all about your Holocaust-learning experience.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me want to cry reading this last part of your journey. Going through all of that must have been so hard but relieving at the same time to know what happened but to be there for them and help never again happen. There were so many stones and so many people must have died there. I can't believe they dug up the bodies because they didn't have enough room, and grilled them like animals! I was so surprised and saddened that you found the town your grandma was from. It's nice that you put the flag there to comfort all of the lost souls.
ReplyDeleteThe 99% killed me. That is just disgusting and of course, the 1% has to deal with ALL of those dead bodies. I might rather be dead than be dragging bodies everyday all day. Sounds awful. Frank Stangl nauseated me. The fact that he was bragging about killing 15,000 people in a 14 hour time period made me so mad. That is never something to brag about and have a clear conscience. He must be insane. Wow, that sign from your grandmother is powerful. That's just amazing. That reminds me of a time I experienced. I was at the beach one night sitting on a hammock with my mom, and we started talking about my grandfather, who i never got to meet. My mom said to her dad, "If you are watching, show us a shooting star." Moments after, take a guess at what happened... a shooting star shot right by. I have treasured this moment for years and will never forget. I'm happy that your grandma gives you so many signs; it must be comforting knowing she's there.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe 99% of the Jews were killed; that must have been torture for the remaining victims who had to see all their friends and family dead. I was also shocked when I read that Frank Stangl thought he did nothing wrong.and his conscience is clear. How could he possibly do such a horrible thing and not feel any guilt? And, even worse, he was proud of the large amount of people he could murder in 14 hours. It's hard to believe someone could be that heartless.
ReplyDeleteReading about Frank Stangl sickens me. He must be soulless because he committed awful crimes and claims he a clear conscious! How can one claim they have a clear conscious when they were the sole purpose for thousands of deaths! It saddens me when the Jewish teenagers who wrote Never again need a body guard. After everything that happened, anti-Semitism still exists! It makes me wonder if anything every changed since the Holocaust? Since Anti-Semitism still exists.
ReplyDeleteI am shocked that the man bragged that Treblinka could murder 15,000 people in a 14-hour period. "I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty. My conscience is clear,” that is unbelievable; it makes me sick to think that people actually thought that way about others. It is also extremely sad that the Jews had no idea that they would be dead within hours; they had little time to prepare themselves and say their last goodbyes. I am ashamed that the guards beat the Jews to make them run faster because that way they could be out of breath and would breathe in the poisonous gas deeper to die faster. It seems like some of the little things they did make the whole picture so much worse. The worst part for me was that the Nazis reopened the graves of the victims, took out the bodies, and burned them on a grill. Then, the Nazis took off some of the fat from larger corpses and put it on the skinnier ones so that they could burn easier. That is the most sickening action that the Nazis have taken that I have read about. The Nazis had to have been very messed up to do that. The part about your grandmother was amazing. I believe that she gave you a sign to find her rock, and I love that you left your flag there. Although nothing remains from the actual camp, all of the stones and memorials left in the victims’ place got the point across. Treblinka is one of the most powerful camps that we have read about.
ReplyDeleteWe've discussed how desensitized people have become to the Holocaust because the way it's been taught in terms of numbers and facts. And you've really taken us in depth to the full reality of the Holocaust and havent spared us from its atrocities. You've given us the personal perspective necessary to understand, (or even beging to understand), the victims and their experiences. So I've tried to focus more on the individuals and less on the statistics, but 15,000 people in 14 hours.... Fifteen. Thousand. In less than a full day. so staggering that I had to stop in order to fully process what I had just read. That's FIVE times the amount of students at Myers park killed in half a day. I am now WAY past the point of rationalizing what the Nazis did. This is so unfathomable to me, this explicit disregard for morality. And when I read about what they did to the dead bodies after they dug them up... It is one thing to hate a person or race, but to slaughter them and their entire people, then do such irreverent, vile things to their bodies, and still be able to sleep with yourself at night is unhuman. To say that what they did was barbaric is a complete understatement. There are no words to label the maleficent, wicked things these satanists did. I know that you know this, but this really made me so angry. I don't know why this particular part of your blog got to me, because it's definitely not the most disturbing one we've seen. But I am so grateful that we got to learn this from you, and I've really enjoyed your blogs so much. That part about your grandmother sending you that sign warmed my heart, it must've been fate that you were the in that exact spot when you saw the rock. Also my parents went to Dachau and my mom still has a pinecone from there.
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT believe that Frank Stangl felt proud of his work at the concentration camp!! How could anyone boast about killing people within two hours of arrival? How is killing 15,000 people in 14 hours an accomplishment? That was NOT his duty. We can never have a duty to do such horrible things. I am so appalled. I also cannot believe that they made the Jews suffer before they were killed. They made them run so they would breath in more poisonous gas? That reminds me of the path to never again article we read where the author wrote that our society is so obsessed with efficiency that we may one day find ourselves searching for the best ways to kill people. It still scares me. Lastly, Mrs. Stone, I'm sure that you make your grandmother proud.
ReplyDeleteThis is highly shocking 99%? Now I think fully understand why some people call Treblinka, the exterminator. It’s very ironic how they don’t like the Jews, but they made money from their belongings. That Stangl, guy, was pretty messed up in the head. How come you kill that many people, and say that you did nothing wrong? Some Nazis were like that, but I think Stangl had mental issues. It is very ironic that some countries are anti-Semitic because you would think that people will learn from the Holocaust, but some are still on that same path. When will the world be a perfect place? Maybe never who knows?
ReplyDeleteI still don't get how Nazis could be such horrible people; it's just completely insane. How could they kill 99% of the people in TWO HOURS?! They would then make the single percent of people they let live deal with all their dirty work, which is the absolute worst. The fact that they bragged about killing 15,000 Jews made me so sick. I knew there were cruel people in this world, but that's just another level of evil. Something must have happened to Nazi participants along the way- it's impossible to be this terrible and human.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Stangl had the nerve to say he did nothing wrong. You killed countless Jews and its just your job? Unbelievable. It made me sick that he bragged it only took 14hrs to kill thousands of Jews. What human thinks that is okay? And then to have 1% of them suffer as slave and bury people they probably knew is just cruel. Its sad that the evidence was destroyed, but seeing the little towns made me joyful. This shows that the Nazis didn't win. It seems like there's a lot of symbolism here too. First butterflies, then ravens, now bees? Life, Death, Then bringing messages (pollen) to the living? I almost cried reading about the sign. Out of thousands of these stones, you found this one. It had to be special. I'm glad we got to read about your journey and you've opened my eyes to much more about the Holocaust, and I hope this doesn't happen again.
ReplyDeleteReading about Frank Stangl made me sick. What kind of person would brag about something so horrible? That’s nothing to be proud of. It does not matter if he didn’t kill anyone himself. The fact that he had anything to do with the killings is bad enough. The Nazis just killed the Jews like they were burning pieces of wood. I feel just as bad for the 1% of Jews who had to handle the dead bodies, and do the Nazis dirty work. I believe in signs and I’m glad that in the end you were able to get a sign from your grandmother. I’m sure she is very proud of you.
ReplyDeleteThe percentage of people dead within two hours, 99 percent, is crazy. How does that even work?! It just seems so impossible. The fact that Stangl can BRAG about killing 15,000 people in a little more than half of a day is appalling. I hate saying this, but I hope his "clear conscience" earns him a place Hell. Something about the destroyed teacup is very haunting to me... I've always associated teacups with happiness and tranquility. It serves, in my opinion, as a powerful symbol of the destruction of innocence and peace. This camp drives me mad. How can anyone willingly work somewhere where the goal is to kill as many innocent people as you can?! I would hate to be the 1% that had to work to bury the deceased; imagine seeing your mother or best friend being dumped into a mass grave and buried. That would be horrifying.I teared up when I read your story about the flag. I have so much faith that your grandmother was looking out for you, and I am more than sure that she would be proud of you. I'm sad that this is the last blog post; I have thoroughly enjoyed reading these posts and getting a better understanding of what really happened at these horrid places.
ReplyDeleteI'm disgusted by the money that the Nazis made off the Jewish people. Those were belongings that those people had cherished their entire lives. How could these people defend themselves after murdering so many people? I would've given up at that point. There's obvious evidence of the horrible things that the Nazis did. They shouldn't have even bothered arguing. And after all this time, the Jewish people STILL have to be protected by a guard?! That's absolutely ridiculous. I thought that anti-semetism would at least go away while they were in the place where so many of their people died. I know that your grandmother would be proud of you for the things you teach your student. I hope that your other students learned and benefited from this as much as I did.
ReplyDeleteBefore I really begin, I would like to say I am pleased you decided for us to read this one last and not the resistance, for while the resistance is more light hearted, the Holocaust is absolute not; the Holocaust should be remembered as one of the darkest times in human history full of hate, sorrow, anger, and suffering so that humans will avoid its recreation. Anyway, I thought that the stones of each town really demonstrates the massive punt of death at the camp. I can only imagine how many Jewish people are remembered through only the small towns -- let alone the the cities. I think you placing the Jewish flag must have been emotional for you and I hope it remains there to this day, for who knows whether ignorant delinquents removed or whether there is someone watching it like the guard for those Jewish visitors, which in my opinion is quite redicilous that there are those who still show anti-semeticsm.
ReplyDeleteThis has got to be my favorite one of all your entries. Yes the others showed the torment explicitly and the Resistance one was truly inspiring, but this one shows both sides to it. Yet again, I'd like to thank you for showing this incredible experience you had with us, and I would very much like to experience it myself. The amount of stones there were left me astonished. It was unbelievable how many different towns/cities the people were deported from, an the fact that they were deported to their death was even worse. I was disappointed by the fact there the students who visited had to have a body guard. Like, seriously?! Your country contributed to the deaths of so many people and you're still making the same mistakes?? Guess they didn't learn from experience. I'm sad that reading about your experience is over, but I'm glad I got the chance. I also thought what you put of the headstone was amazing. It's strange, and I don't know how to explain it, but it just made me feel a certain way. Admiration, I suppose. This was truly an amazing experience to read.
ReplyDeletePicture your moments with a loved one as the Nazis told you that you were going to live. Vision being separated from that loved one as they are led to death. Now imagine yourself dragging the very corpse of your loved ones to their graves. The Jews had to be the strongest people I know. To be able to bear such pain is unbelievable. If it hurts just to think about about, imagine how much it would hurt actually being their. The fact that it is possible to kill 15,000 people in 14 hours in one death camp is sickening. It seems like the Nazis were just plain monsters who were adroit in killing. Sometimes this makes you ponder if we could ever lose to the grasp of inhumanity.
ReplyDeleteThis is cruel. Not only did Frank Stangl want to KILL people more efficiently, but he bragged about how many Jews were able to be killed in one day. It makes me wonder how many of the Jews were the "1%". Was it hundreds, or was it thousands? Did they live past those moments, or were they killed as well? Believe it or not, this is probably the worst camp I have read about. Maybe it is because of the straight up cruelness that is shown in this camp that is a little more subtle in others... Either way, I feel sorry for all of these people and their families that suffered.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read another one of your post I build an even bigger hatred for the Nazis. They absolutely disgust me. The fact that they could take train loads of people to murder and burn in a matter of 2 hours is very impressive but sickening. In addition, Stangl is in a very special place of hell. What type of a monster would brag about how many people in such a small time? Also, it would have destroyed me to be the 1% to have dug up open graves to move my family. Furthermore, the flag that you left on your grandmother's rock represent her town really gives life back into humanity, there is a sense of protections and hope.
ReplyDelete-Nicholas Wartham
It is very sad how they waste so much time trying to come up with ways to torture the Jews even more. It is sick to beat someone before you kill them. Isn't a two hour overlap time not good enough for them? Everything about this death camp is sick. How they used there belongings to make a profit for themselves. What I think is the worst is how they used the fat from the other bodies and put them on the skinnier ones so they would burn faster. It is also awful how they made the 1% of the Jews who lived have to bury they bodies of the just killed and burned Jews.
ReplyDeleteIt's devastating to read how 99 percent of the people who arrived died within two hours. There's no reason why all those innocent people should be brought to a camp that is going to kill them. Frank Stangl's conscience was obviously not clear when he boasted about killing Jews in a certain amount of time. No person is right in the head if they are competitive about murder. If he was so proud of his work then why would he destroy all the gas chambers at Treblinka? This death camp was very disturbing but, I like how you experienced a surreal family moment while visiting it.
ReplyDeleteIt is bad enough that the Nazis were murdering Jews, but the fact that they had so little remorse in doing so is disturbing. They felt the Jews were so subhuman that they became concerned with the efficiency of murdering the Jews. The SS officer Stangl even bragged about being able to murder so many Jews in a certain period of time, but then says that he was not morally at fault. Then, once they realized they were going to be caught, the Nazis tried to destroy the evidence, as if the murder of millions could be concealed. The memorials at Treblinka are important, not only for the world to remember, but for the families and relatives of the deceased to have.
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ReplyDeleteIt must have been horrible for the 1% that survived to have to bury their fellow Jews, and go through the emotional trauma of knowing what was about to happen to the Jews coming in. Stangl is a horrible person for bragging about being able to kill thousands of people in a matter of hours, and he does not have the right to justify his actions by saying "It was in his duty." If the Nazis ordered him to jump off a cliff, would he have done it? The way the Nazis used the fat of the larger corpses to burn the skinnier ones was perturbing and disgusting. I hope Nazis like Stangl suffer in hell for their crimes.
ReplyDeleteHow sickening! How can Stangl live with him self after saying "I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty. My conscience is clear". How could his conscience be clear?!?! that is messed up! This is why I truly think that Nazis are evil. (maybe not all) But how can you not think Stangl is evil after reading about him and his death camp. It boggles my mind how someone could wake up every morning and run a death camp. Then he BRAGGED about how he could kill 15,000 innocent jews in a 14 hour period. How could some one brag about that. That's not something you brag about.I also hate the fact the Nazis lied to the jews over and over again. Even though people were not recorded while going through Treblinka, I'm really happy that you found you grandmothers town stone. Loved reading your journey. Really informed me.
ReplyDeleteIt’s sad how the Nazis would lie to the Jews by telling them they were just “relocating.” I understand it would create havoc if they told the Jews, but I would want to know before hand. It would really just make my emotions go crazy but I would rather know than it be a surprise. It really disgusts me how they would burn all of these bodies. I wonder how the dealt with the smell of all of those dead burning bodies. I bet some of them passed out because it smelled so bad.
ReplyDeleteCamps like this one prove just how horrible humans can be. Stangl's words and bragging regarding the crimes he committed seems unreal. It is scary to think the human mind can reach such a point. I find it unsettling to read not only 99 percent of the Jews died soon after their arrival, but the one percent's sole job was to take dead bodies of their fellow people to mass graves. On a better note, I like the symbolism of the benches and the towns. I'm thrilled you were able to further educate us through your experiences.
ReplyDeleteStangl bragged about the fact that he was able to kill 15,000 within 14 hours... That's nearly 30,000 a day... It's just awful. He bragged about this on trial! That's the worst part. After he was caught he could have come to his senses and seen what he did - he didn't. He stayed in the state of mind that what he was doing was good. It's awful to hear that they tried to speed up the process by wearing them out and making them breath heavier. That was his goal and it's horrifying. I'm really glad that on your last day you found the stone of Janow Podlaski and felt your grandmother sent you a sign. Also for the amazing, eye-opening journey you went on and that you practically brought us along with you through your blogs
ReplyDeleteIt continues to disgust me that the Nazis thought about the murder of Jews as a machine. To them the only thing that mattered was that the Jews were killed quickly and efficiently. It is also disturbing to think that the Germans were proud of their efficiency and that they made the effort to count how many Jews they could kill in 14 hours. Many of the men who committed these horrible acts felt similarly to Stangl, who had a clear conscious. The acts committed at Treblinka were terrible and the number of deaths that occurred there is powerfully represented by the stones that bear the names of the many towns the murdered Jews had come from. I cannot imagine the level of hatred needed to commit such crimes against humanity.
ReplyDeleteWow. What Stangl said almost made me sick. How can your conscience be clear when you contributed to the mass murder of millions of Jews. I don't know how this man came to think like that, and I hope he was severely punished for his actions. It sickens me when I hear that these men were doing their duty like he said, and they didn't do anything wrong. You should be able to differentiate between right and wrong, especially at the severity of those crimes. Once again, these horrific sights have transformed into totally different landscapes, and you would never know what happened before.
ReplyDeleteMultiple times throughout this blog I had to slow down and tell myself to fully process the material I was reading. The numbers are overwhelmingly atrocious. It is almost like the Nazis perfected this “game of killing,” and the time it took to kill the new “waves of people” continued to decrease. The efficiency of the entire process was so necessary that the Nazis continued to tire out the Jews, beat them, and lie to them in order to make them cooperate. 15,000 people in almost half a day…not even a full day…were killed. The numbers are absolutely staggering. Lastly, I still have chills from your closing words on the blog. I know how you shared with us your special connection you had with your grandmother and asking her to give you signs. I thought it was very special when you took the time to circle the monuments and take in everything. I loved how symbolism was still yet to represent the pinecones of life and the Jewish flag that once wrapped you in comfort. The reflection you had of your trip was moving and personable. I thought it sent a powerful message about making sure that no one will take away safety and protection every again from the Jews. This is one of the lessons we need to take away from the Holocaust in order to improve society today by educating about this event and not ignoring its occurrence to prevent it happening again.
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ReplyDeleteTreblinka, not the most fitting name. I, personally, would have called it Stadt der Toten, City of the Dead. 15,000 people in 14 hours... that's horror. that's the embodiment of cruelty. The fact that 99 percent of each "load" was dead within two hours horrifies me. Reading this, I began to wonder. Would it be worse to be the 99 percent dead as soon as they got there? Or would it be better to be part of the one percent... the men who had to carry their dead loved ones' or neighbors' bodies. They could either be burned, or they could be buried. And in the end, it doesn't matter anyways. It's not like if they did the corpse removal they would live. They would just be delaying the inevitable. In one of the most painful ways possible.
ReplyDelete-Nicholas Hicks
Wow. I cannot believe that Frank Stangl said, “I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty. My conscience is clear" That is disgusting. How can mankind be that low? He didn’t care one bit! I was also disgusted when I read that the Nazis were making the Jews run faster so they could breathe the poisonous gas deeper. Unbelievable! It’s already bad enough that they were going to die, but they still weren’t satisfied. The Nazis had to make it worse. The end of your blog made me cry! That was so neat how your grandmother gave you a sign! I like how you left the Jewish flag on the stone and as you said, “wrapped them in comfort”. I’m so sad that it’s over. I have learned SO MUCH about the Holocaust that I never knew before, and it has really touched me.
ReplyDeleteThe fact Stangl thinks his conscience is clear and he did nothing wrong shows how immoral people can be. I feel like there is pure hatred in his blood for the Jews becasuse he had the guts to brag about how many Jews Treblinka could kill in little time at his trial. It is disgusting that they intentionally made the Jews out of of breath so they would die faster in the gas chamber. It is still so hard to believe humans could treat their own kind in this manner. I think it’s really cool how the pine cones represented life and how you put the Israeli flag on the rock.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lucy. I think the whole fact about he was bragging he could kill so many people in 14 hours is horrifying. Also, it's dissapointing how he said this on his trial. I truly think these Nazis were monsters. Looking at the Field with the two stones and the benches made me think of something peaceful. Then, I looked at the picture rewinded 70 years or so and saw how horrible the deceiving field really was. This unit has continued to maze me, shock me, hurt me, and interest me. I'm so glad we had you to explain to us the Holocaust in depth and take so much time and effort for us.
ReplyDelete-Matthew Start
It disgusts me to think that when all of the Jews arrived to this camp they were told by the Nazis that they might be rewarded if they work hard….not knowing they were all going to die within a couple of hours. I can't even believe such people could kill that many people within just one day. And for me to see the pictures of all the mass graves and the piles and piles of dead people is so heart breaking. I loved reading about your grandmother and how she gave signs to you and when you left the jewish flag, that was very neat. I have learned soooo many new things this whole holocaust unit and I am sad that it is about to be over, but I can't wait to tell people about the Holocaust since I now know a lot about it!
ReplyDeleteThis last camp is probably among the worst just because on the sheer amount of promising lives the Nazis took here. This is yet another terrible camp were despicable things happened. Even though I am still not shocked by the events that happened here I do feel very disappointed in the actions of other human being. It’s sad to know what everyone in this world is capable of. This must have been a terrible way to die, being tricked and lied to and then promised, loaded into freight cars, treated like cattle, and beat right before they’re killed; absolutely discussing
ReplyDeleteWilliam Jolly
You being able to find your grandmothers city out of all of the other cities named there is amazing. I think it's weird that you find that out of all of those stones. It is like she was waiting for you to come find her and made sure she stood out(look at the size of that stone). Treblinka is a terrible place. The fact that they brag about the amount to people they could kill in a certain time is sickening. How can you do such a terrible thing and be proud of it? This just shows how heartless the Nazis were. Thank you for sharing your journey with us! Even though I may not have commented on all of them I still read them! They really inform you how terrible the Holocaust was. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBragging about taking away the lives of innocent people? How heartless could you possibly be? On the other hand,it's fascinating how you found your grandparents city stone throughout all of those stones. You asked for a sign, and there, right in front of your eyes was your grandparents city engraved in a stone. Treblinka along with all of the other death camps disgusted me. How could the Nazis not get tired of just being ruthless and so brutal? Did they not have feelings? I couldn't imagine even having the guts to even think about taking someone's life, but the fact that the bragged about it, just makes it all worse.
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ReplyDeleteI couldn’t imagine arriving at a remote location and knowing I would be dead within a matter of hours. How can 15,000 lives be gone not even within a full day’s time? It’s saddening to know that the Israeli teenagers needed to be guarded. How could the 1% of Jews handle delivering bodies of people they once knew to the mass grave? No one can possibly imagine the heartache the victims felt having to bury their own people because of twisted, wicked people. It is truly remarkable that you believe you were able to receive a sign from your grandmother.
Treblinka
ReplyDeleteI was totally horrified by how many Jews each day were gassed. Even in Auschwitz there were these “selections”. I guess there were very minimal in Treblinka because you did say that the Nazis only kept one percent to use as slaves with the sole purpose of carrying the dead bodies to the mass graves. They were pretty much sonderkommandos that didn’t live as long as the actual sonderkommandos. I have to admit, the Frank Stangl guy kind of mystified me for multiple reasons. I got why he would brag about his actions because the Nazis were taught to think that they were doing the right thing, but why would he brag about what he did in court… Didn’t the Nazis not want to tell their secrets, which is why they burned down numerous camps?
May I first start by saying that the story about your grandmother was very sweet. Im so happy for you that you got another sign; I could almost feel your joy lingering in the words. Im sure that it was bitter sweet that it was your last camp to visit, and I bet that was a great "final send off." Overall, I was not shocked by what I read on this blog page. If i had read this at the beginning of the year, I might have been horrified by the amount of deaths that the Nazis caused. However, after studying the Holocaust in depth, I am no longer surprised by the atrocities that the Nazis were capable of committing. I still think that what they did was horrid and sickening, but I am not surprised. I understand now that people have it in themselves to be terrible creatures, and I've learned that people can turn in to murdering monsters in seconds. This blog was a great way to wrap up everything. I had learned about the Holocaust before but never in so much detail. I feel like I now understand what truly happened and how. It was an amazing experience. Thank you so much, Mrs. Stone.
ReplyDeleteFrank Stangl’s quote caught my eye. It’s revolting that he would brag about the amount of people he could kill so quickly and that he was completely satisfied with everything he did; it’s chilling to think that he didn’t regret anything that he did out of all of the horrendous war crimes he committed. Additionally, I find it incredibly frustrating that the Nazis sold the Jews’ luggage and received such a large profit for it. They don’t deserve a penny of the 77 million marks they “earned.” I hope that the money was given back to the survivors and the families of those who lost their lives to the Nazis as a small compensation for the excruciating agony they had been put through. However, in reality, there is no amount of money that can make up for what these people experienced. Furthermore, I’m so happy that your grandmother gave you a sign on the final leg of your journey in Europe. It’s fitting that you left the flag that had comforted you all throughout the multiple concentration camps you visited because now you have the peace of mind that your grandmother is happy and watching from up above.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that made me the most angry was when I read about how the Nazis would beat the Jews to make them run faster and breathe in the gas quicker. The fact that they did this to the Jews so they would die quicker is so sickening and nauseating. Also, hearing Frank Stangl brag about how he could kill 15,000 Jews in a 14-hour period enraged me. To brag about murder is disgusting and makes you that much worse of a person than you already are. It made me devastated to read about how the Nazis lied to the Jews by saying they would be rewarded for their hard work when really their "reward" was death. But what really made me pissed off was when the Nazis sold the Jews' luggage and got money for it. In no way did they ever deserve that nor did they have the right to take something that doesn't belong to them in the first place.
ReplyDeleteIt's chilling that the Nazis quite literally made killing a procedure right down to the time it took for the toxins to get into the Jews' systems. The Nazis who took part in this were no longer human; they became machines themselves. That's the only way that they could bear what they were doing in any clear conscience; they had to stop feeling. Their concerns were killing efficiency, and to that end, they meticulously planned out every day in order to get bodies gassed and burned as quickly as possible. Stangl exemplifies this; his goading about having a 'clear conscience' wasn't just a show of pride. It was a show of how far gone both the Nazi regime and its subscribers were.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that you received ANOTHER sign! It must have felt amazing. However, while reading this blog post I was honestly enraged. The things that I continue to find out more and more as I read is just horrible. Bragging about killing INNOCENT people? That's Disgusting! How inhumane and cruel could a "person" possibly get? I can't even read the words Death Camp without being disgusted. I can't do anything but express my sorrow and sympathy for the ones affected by these people. Frank Stangl and the MANY like him were truly disgusting people. What has humanity done to deserve being plagued with people like Stangl or Hitler? How could someone possibly be forgiven for the misery inflicted upon someone? I think,think and think but then realize there are still people out there who value morals. No one deserves conditions like these to be imposed on them. Ever. However, As people. we should come together and bond instead of spreading hatred towards groups because of judging groups based on individuals.
ReplyDeleteAlso if I already knew the amount of Jews who died, it’s still hard to read the huge number without feeling anything. It’s unbelievable how Frank Stangl’s conscience is clear after all the things he has done. How could he not feel a bit of remorse? I don’t understand how he doesn’t get that what he did was totally wrong, but I think I will never really comprehend it. It is so interesting and sad at the same time to read that the SS guards would beat the Jews to run faster so that they could die quicker in the gas chambers. You’re so right when you say the Nazis were mad. I can imagine how emotional you felt when your grandmother actually “responded” to your request for a sign. If you’re wondering about it, I really think you’re making her proud.
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ReplyDeleteThis last blog really hit home for me. It is so twisted how the Nazis made the Jews run. They made them run so that once the Nazis were ready to kill them they’d be out of breath and breath in all the toxic fumes in the death chamber. What really hit home was when you stated that when there wasn’t enough space in the mass grave the Nazis would dig up the graves and burn the dead bodies. If the corpse was to skinny they would take the fat from another corpse and put it onto the skinny one. That just made my stomach turn. That is so messed up on so many levels.
Well dam! This article alone has more emotion than all others combined. It is sad that so many died, and so few are remembered, but what they stand for, what they represent, leaves a lasting impact on all of us. I loved the part at the end with the flag on the stone. I've seen that on many memorials around the world. Leaving a flag of one's nationality is a sign of honor, peace and hope for those lost. To me the fact that you did this gives me renewed hope and faith in humanity. We can always strive to do better. To remember. To never forget. To always forgive, and to always know, NEVER FORGET.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was very interesting how you decided to stay and ended up seeing a rock with the town that your grandmother was from. I liked how you put the flag on top. Another thing I thought was interesting were all the bees. That's really weird how they all circled your feet. I thought that the picture with the crane was awful. They killed so many people, that they needed a crane in order to dig it all up. I also found the fact that they tricked the Jews awful. They even pushed them so they would die faster! The part with the grills and the how they did all that was the most nauseation for me. I just don't understand how someone could possibly do that to innocent people. They truly are demonic monsters!
ReplyDeleteYour grandmother's second sign gave me goosebumps. Like wow. Out of 17,00 stones and you just happened to stumble onto the one with her town engraved on it. This last blog, in my opinion, definitely had the most emotion behind it. I think the thing that really horrified me was the reason why the Nazis made the Jewish people run. They made them run so that they'd be out of breath and breathe in all the toxic air when in the death chamber. I've read some dark things before, but that's on a whole different level. Although I am not Jewish (or very religious for that matter) I don't think I'll ever be able to forget what happened to the Jewish people during the Holocaust. Especially after reading this blog and studying it with you. You have opened my eyes and have made me look at the world differently. To know when to forgive and forget, and to know when to never forget.
ReplyDeleteI had a mix of emotions while reading this last post. At first, I felt mad. Who wouldn't be enraged when they hear about people bragging about how fast they can kill thousands of innocent people? The nazis then had the nerve to lie to these victims and say that they were going to get relocated or tell them something other then, " Hi we are going to kill you now!" I don't even want to imagine the look on the victim's faces when they finally realize that they were going to die real soon. After reading the next part about your grandmother sending you a sign, I was shocked. The whole time I was in your class, I couldn't wait until I find out about her sign! It's amazing how out of all those stones, you found the one that had her town name. It made me happy when you left the Israeli flag on the stone. It's more than just a flag, it is a sign of pride and remembrance.
ReplyDeleteThis was easily the most jarring entry. The money made off of torture, the one death every three seconds, the quote "My conscience is clear," the lies they told to the Jews, it all gave me chills. This is stupid, but the thing that most contributed to the negative atmosphere was the bees. I'm terrified of bees; I always have been. For me, the bees show that even today there is misery in Treblinka. I appreciated the use of stones for the railroad tracks and the tombstones. Stones have always been a symbol of steadfastness; to me, they meant that the memories of the Holocaust will never dissipate. They will remain strong for generations to come, and we will never forget the tragedies that occurred. It also fits with your closing statement that the Jews are no longer in diaspora. The nation of Israel is their stone.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say I was shocked by Frank Stangl’s quote, but after this unit, I don’t think there’s much about the Nazis that could shock me anymore. Still, the coldbloodedness of it sickened me; the “True path to ‘never again’” article that we read in class comes to mind. The Nazis literally had killing Jews down to a science; it became so methodical and rationalized that they didn’t even stop to think about what they were doing or who they were killing. The part about the Isreali students needing an armed guard also struck me; I can only imagine how it feels knowing that you have to have an armed guard just so you can exist in a place of memorial for your own people. (If it helps with your thought of the bees feeding on remains, I’m no scientist, but I don’t believe bees are decomposers... If anything, they’re the opposite since all they do is carry pollen to grow flowers, but I digress.) The sign from your grandmother was a beautifully bittersweet ending to this post and to the blog. Thank you for writing this blog, and thank you for teaching this class.
ReplyDelete-Rachel Kraiss
Spangl's response astounded me! He truly believed that what he did was right, and that is extremely inhumane. You think that someone who was so highly regarded would be smart enough to see that what he was doing was completely, utterly wrong. I do understand that he thought he was doing the right thing because that is what he was taught and believed, but I still find that mind-blowing. Also, I thought the part about you seeing the sign from your grandmother, was the most powerful section in all of your blogs. From what you have told us, signs are a huge part of the Holocaust and this entire unit, so to me this brings the entire unit full circle.
ReplyDeletewell, we finally found out what the final sign was. The most twisting thing that I gathered from this post, was the fact that the head Nazi official saw nothing wrong with what he was doing. He didn't apologize for what he had done. He saw it as his "duty" to exterminate the thousands of Jews that entered his camp. It's a shame that a man would look back at his life and find the most important thing he had done was find a way to kill 15,000 people iun 14 hours. that's 1,1071 in an hour, and about 18 people every minute. even some of the worlds most tragic terrorist attacks didn't have that high of a kill rate.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a place where innocent people are murdered is totally disgusting to me. Frank Stangl is also pretty disgusting to me from what I've heard about him so far. The audacity to BRAG about how many people he can kill is ridiculous and frustrating. How people like him exist is beyond me. I will never understand what drives a person to feel that much hate for a group of people or to feel so much pride in murdering said group. Wow. I can't even comprehend what I just read. Wtf. I can not understand at all what kind of brain damage they have to take fat off of people and put it on others. That is literally something I would expect to see in a horror movie. I'm in complete disbelief. Honestly...
ReplyDeleteIt didn’t shock me that this camp’s main purpose was to kill. I was, however, sickened by learning that the small size of this camp was due to the fact that 99% of the “arrivals” were killed within two hours of arriving. I absolutely hate the fact that the Nazis made so much money from selling items that they stole from the Jews! What angered me was when I read how SS officers such as Frank Stangl had jobs specifically to think of better ways to kill people more efficiently, but what made me furious was his response on trial; he BRAGGED about how fast they killed people and didn’t even think he did anything wrong. I was horrified to learn that the Nazis made the Jews run so that they would be out of breath and breathe in the poisonous gas deeper. How sick. Your grandmother’s sign made me tear up. How powerful that must have been!
ReplyDelete-Madison Bain
One thing that stuck out to me, of the many things, was the fact that Treblinka could kill 15,000 people in 14 hours. That probably isn’t an actual statistic and might be an exaggeration, but that’s almost 17 people per minute. With all this happening around them, it’s still astounding that they got tricked like that. If the air was clouded with ash and terrible smells like that, I would like to think that I would be skeptical, but they had no other choice than to keep walking; running I should say. That’s absolutely disgusting that they would make them run to increase the amount of zyklon B that they would breathe in. that is a new level of disgust because they probably took pleasure in them being out of breath and dyeing. The other most eye catching thing was when they took the fat and put it on the skinnier bodies to burn better, if that wasn’t bad enough, they were being reburied. The extend of the Holocaust’s reach never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone feel that they have the right brag about how fast they can murder people? The quote Frank Stangl said really struck me; "my conscience is clear" especially. I truly don't know how anyone can justify that, efficiently murder millions of people and then say "my conscience is clear." Honestly, I am truly not surprised by that, but it doesn't change the fact that the Nazis were not human. The whole "efficiency" aspect of this camp is very frightening to me. All they wanted was to kill them as quickly as possible, not giving any thought into what they were doing; again, not surprising anymore, but still frightening and horrible. On a brighter note, I was happy to read about the sign your grandmother gave you. Taking this class and this unit have truly made me see the Holocaust in a different way; I always knew it was terrible, but I now know so much more than I ever would have. And how this is going on now in the world. I truly hope that humanity is more educated and that they have higher morals than they did back in Nazi Germany.
ReplyDelete-Nicholas Glenn
I do not understand how the Nazis could constantly be around death. If I were them, I would become very anxious. I would be careful what my last words were to all the Jews dying and hope that they could die with their families. The worst would have been the one percent that didn't die. I would have just wanted to die with my family or my people. Having to see your people dead would be miserable. This would have been unimagiable misery.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very cool how your grandmother gives you signs. I hope one day my grandmother and I could do that. Whenever my dad leaves the country, I do tell him to come down and say hello to me. I hope all the victims of the Holocaust got to give signs to their family left on earth. It would be especially hard if you did not know if your family was dead or alive.
It caught my attention when you mentioned that there was thousands of cities represented by rocks. It really shows how much of the world the Nazis affected...wow.
-Mary Banks Farmer
Awwwww. This story is so touching! The fact that you noticed that one stone among all the others is awe-inspiring. She must really be guiding you from beyond the grave.
ReplyDeleteThe statement about the dissection of fat to have the corpses burn more efficiently reminds me of some kind of sadistic children. You know the child-like fascination of torture? like with insects or small animals? They don't realize what they're doing but are engrossed by it nonetheless. They're the sick mindless cogs of the machine. Although, I could hold respect for the cunning of some of those who are skilled such as Hannibal Lecter (I don't condone their acts) because of their deftness without the use of brainwashing.
It's amazing how people have tried to keep the memory of the victims alive. I hope the future will remember throught great things like this blog.
I now understand Simon Wiesentahl's statement that the Nazi's were "well oiled machinery of destruction" even more. They were geniuses. And they lived up, or rather down, to their potential. The sad thing is that they used their ideas to create hell in the world. They did everything they could to speed up a process of complete extermination. And it all happened because they were prejudiced toward the Jews. I feel really bad for the Nazis. Their minds were decorated with disgusting ornaments of hatred and evil. I am very glad that the Jews now have their own home in which they could live in. They were torn apart by endless mount of wars,abused by countless amounts of discrimination. The day truly has come when the Jews could rejoice and don't have to look over their heads for an enemy. I am happy to see that after all the pain and atrocities the Jews went through, they have founded a home in which they can protect their own
ReplyDeleteI hate how the Jews were treated as animals and not humans and that they sold the Jews belonging. At least let them have something of their own when they die! I also was not aware that the Nazis sold the Jews. That is terrible. Stangl reminds me of the Milgram Experiment. He said it was his "duty" to kill the Jews, the authority figure is Hitler, and he is being obedient towards Hitler. He's an idiot. The picture of the people in the boxcars is truly sickening and saddening. The fact that people were treated like that just makes me really sad and angry. Also, the fact that, today, Jews still need to be protected from antisemitism is extremely crazy. They should not have to worry about that threat. When you were talking about leaving your flag on the rock, it reminded me of the sunflowers that were planted on the Nazis graves. Except, the Jewish people deserve "life," and the Nazis do not.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how people are actually heartless enough to do anything as awful as this. Especially when they don't even tell the Jews that they are about to be killed. That's crazy and so cruel!!! It's also really interesting to me that someone with such craven actions would actually be smart enough to think of something like making the Jews more out of breath so that they will inhale the gas more and die faster. I mean, it still falls under the category of craven, but I find it to be also quite strategic of them to think of that. I think that Hitler is craven because he decided to expunge his enemies and those of which that wouldn't believe him, and knew better than to listen to him. It's also quite craven of him to decide to kill himself if he was ever caught doing what he was doing, because it's like he's too afraid to be punished for what he's done because he knows he's been doing something that's very wrong and shouldn't be done.
ReplyDeleteMy jaw dropped to the floor when I read that 99% of the people who arrived at the camp were dead within 2 hours of arriving. I can’t believe that those theifs collected all of the Jew’s belongings and sold them making 77 million marks. Who in their right mind would buy stolen belongings. I can’t believe that Frank’s goal was to basically kill the Jews as fast as possible. I don’t understand how a person can promise someone something and not follow through. It’s so sickening that an Israeli group of teenagers had to have an armed guard surrounding them. It’s so heartwarming to know that you got another sign from your grandmother. She must be very proud!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chrysoula in the fact that I was also so surprised and upset by the fact that the majority of the people who arrived were dead within two hours. This entry started off on saddening note when you wrote about Stangl bragging about the amount of people he killed, the Jews being lied to, and how the distance ahead was covered by the trains, but then I got to the part about your grandmother. I have enjoyed hearing about your signs, and this one made me happy, as I know it did for you. I love how you said that the people were now wrapped in comfort. Very touching, Mrs. Stone!
ReplyDeleteIt scares me that somebody can be totally okay and bragging at the thought of killing 15,000 people a 14 hour period. I can't imagine what it was like to be the person who they chose to move the corpses and to dig up the bodies. I can't even begin to imagine how many deaths there were in total. I just realized that I say "I can't even imagine" a lot, but there is apart of my mind telling me that this isn't real, that it didn't happen, and it scares me to think that this did happen not so long ago. I am 100% positive that your grandmother would be proud of you. It makes me happy knowing that you got your sign from your grandmother, and to know that she is watching out for you.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing I'll ever think about when I look back on the blogs of the death camps was that the Nazis put flesh from the heavier corpses onto the skinnier ones. The Nazis had no shame or any guilt. One guy justified his reason for killing the Jews because it was his DUTY!! I was shocked. To imagine either being the 1% to move around the dead bodies and work as a slave or to be the 99& and die right away is a very difficult decision. I was thinking about what I would do IF I were given the chance, and I couldn't imagine being in either position. I enjoyed reading, and although it was about Jews dying, and the Holocaust was a depressing time, to be properly educated about what happened behind the gates of the death camps allowed me to open the gates to new knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI read about and watched a movie on this death camp when I saw it on Netflix. It was about survivors telling stories of the camp and coming back to visit it. As shocking as it was to see old men cry, it gave me a lot of insight on the horrors that were perpetuated against the Jews at these camps. This post made me realize once again that the Nazis were horrible people and should always be prosecuted.
ReplyDeleteIt shocks me to see that the prisoners wouldn't even be able to live life as prisoners because of how quickly they die. I mean, two hours seriously?! “My conscience is clear?!” I THINK THE HECK NOT! It isn't your “duty” to do anything. You chose to do this, and you could have backed out of it but didnt. So your conscience is NOT clear! 15000 people in a 14 hour period. It’s just unbelievable. Unbelievable. Like I said before, telling people they're going to die is one thing but tricking people into dying is just a whole other thing and much worse. Your grandmother's sign left me in awe.
ReplyDeleteThis death camp was by far the most disturbing to read about. I can not believe that 99% got killed within the first hour they arrived. the man who created this camp is an actual monster... how on earth could you be okay with killing thousands and thousands of INNOCENT people a day?? it just plainly does not make sense to me. getting that sign from your grandmother was super bizarre yet so incredible, i can't even imagine what was going through your head when that happened. it kind of saddens me that this is the last blog post; although the holocaust was terribly devastating, the way you taught about it and disused it made me so much more interested.
ReplyDeleteIf 99% of the Jews died, what happened to the other 1%?? If they killed them as soon as they got there or the sole purpose of the camps were to murder, why did it take 2 hours to kill them? I think it creates suspicion when they burn down the gas chambers because they had to know what they were doing was wrong. They wouldn’t have destroyed the evidence if they weren’t ashamed of it. I don’t even know what to say about any of this. Throughout this whole unit I have been holding back my feelings and all of my questions for the sake of learning, but now I can let them out and I have been doing that in all of the blog responses.
ReplyDeleteThis blog was one of the hardest to read because it was so bleak until the end when you talked about your grandmother. Hearing that made me feel better but it is still so sad to think about all the things that happened to the Jewish people at this death camp. Just thinking about how they knew nothing and followed their promises blindly not knowing their true intentions like making them run so they'd breath in the gas faster and die faster was sickening. overall your blog truly has impacted me, my knowledge on the holocaust surely has grown
ReplyDeleteHow could someone brag about killing people so quickly. They used them as slaves and to make a quick buck. They beat people so they kill them faster. This entire camp seems to be worse one out of all of them. But at least now they may rest know that it is over.
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ReplyDeleteI got chocked up when you talked about your grandmother. The whole concept of the Holocaust is so heart wrenching but seems so far away. Your comment about your grandmother kind of reeled it back in to home, and it hit me. The fact that some kids had to have an armed guard to protect them is bull crap. They are kids who want to learn, and their lives are being threatened by some ignorant assholes. Ridiculous. Stangl gave me chills. How could he sit there and say his conscious was clear????? What is really chilling is that he looks so normal. You expect these monsters to actually be larger-than-life monsters with big black wings and claws, but they are not. That is so chilling.
ReplyDeleteReading about Frank Stangl made me really mad and aggravated. Stangl obviously did not have a heart since there was no remorse for what he did. Only someone pure evil can actually BRAG about killing 15,000 people in a span of 14 hours. Furthermore, Stangl saying that his conscience is clear, somehow, proves my point even more! It is so sad that the Jews had no idea that in only a couple hours after arriving to Treblinka, they are going to die. The Nazis were so manipulative and malicious to purposefully make the Jews out of breath so they will die quicker. It is so disgusting how they would get the corpses to cook quicker, it almost makes me sick just thinking about it. I wonder if the Nazis who did that work had any thoughts of regrets while picking off the fat of an innocent human. Finally, it was very heartwarming hearing about your grandmother and you finding the town she lived in. Your grandmother is definitely watching over you right now and proud that you are teaching all your students about the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe Stangl bragged about how many people he could murder in a 14 hour period. The fact that he said his conscience was clear is baffling to me. If he felt that what he had done was right, why is the camp no longer standing? If his conscience was truly clear, wouldn't he have wanted the camp to stay there? I suppose it could've been other people's decision though. I feel as though he is truly the "monster" many people have come to picture when they think about the people who executed the Holocaust. I was very shocked to read that the victims were forced to run so they'd breathe in gas more quickly and, therefore, die more quickly in the gas chambers. I am so shocked by this dehumanization. It is sick to me that someone would even think to do this. The amount of death that happened in this camp is just so unreal to me. It breaks my heart that so many people were killed here. I was uplifted, however, when I read about how you felt as though your grandmother had sent a sign to you. I thought that it was so fitting that you left your flag there, which had protected you through so much.
ReplyDeleteOne of the parts that stood out to me the most was, that the guards would beat the Jews into running faster. This was not for faster work or anything. The guards want the Jews to be out of breathe when the went in the gas chamber they would breathe the gas in quicker. It also stood out how the man bragged about being able to kill so many Jews so quick. 99% died within the first 2 hours that is crazy. Could you imagine the savagery of the Nazi leaders who even came up with a plan this effective.-William Smith
ReplyDeleteOne of the parts that stood out to me the most was, that the guards would beat the Jews into running faster. This was not for faster work or anything. The guards want the Jews to be out of breathe when the went in the gas chamber they would breathe the gas in quicker. It also stood out how the man bragged about being able to kill so many Jews so quick. 99% died within the first 2 hours that is crazy. Could you imagine the savagery of the Nazi leaders who even came up with a plan this effective.-William Smith
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me was the deception in the camp to the arriving Jews. I don't understand why so much effort was put forth to shave their heads and label their luggage if they were going to kill them in the end. This was cruel. It was also frightening to read Strangl's comment on the mass murder at trial. He showed no remorse and is truly an evil person. It was saddening to see that an armed guard had to be with the group of Israelis to protect them even years later.
ReplyDeleteI genuinely don't know how to describe the way I felt when I read that Stangl said that his conscience was clear. This was a job and a duty that he picked. He chose to kill these people. I was utterly disgusted that he was bragging about the rate at which his camp killed Jews. Did he not realize that these were people? I cannot imagine any of my friends saying that about an animal. It's like the Jews were merely objects.
ReplyDeleteI warmed my heart about your Grandmother watching, and I am sure she is proud for being able to teach our class and others about this horrible event. I have to be honest, I envied the thought about your grandmother. I personally never knew any of my grandparents. I only have a Grandmother, and I still have never met her in person. I was saddened again that the Jewish people were walking straight into their deaths. The fact that They could murder so many in such a short period of time bothered me. It's also sad that those teens still needed protection. I just wonder why there is still anti-semitism in Germany when the government is getting justice for the Jewish people who have been wronged.
ReplyDeleteThis is just terrible, I can't believe that anyone could have a "clear conscience." He was killing innocent people and he acted as if it was just a normal every day job. WTF! I also found it interesting how much much the Nazis tried to hide what was going on from the Jews. I don't understand how such a thing could happen and all the perpetrators take it so not seriously!
ReplyDeleteThe quote by Frank Stangl reminded me of our forgiveness paper’s. I personally, in regards to the Nazis, feel that it is better for someone as bad as Frank Stangl to not understand what he and the Nazis did wrong. The reason I feel this way is because we can more closely call this way of thinking as more of a sociopath. This doesn’t make it better but if a Nazi followed in Frank’s footsteps and made poor decisions like him and then apologies I feel that it is worse. The only reasoning behind my belief is because that means they were conscience in their decision making while acting. This is worse than a Nazi not understanding what they did wrong. The part about the guard enrages me that the need him for all the possible malicious anti- semitic people that are still out there. I don’t understand how people can still see the Jewish community as their enemies. This is one of the reasons I’m not religious because I know there will always be people in every religion that is against another religion, which to me makes the process redundant because they’ll always use their beliefs against others.
ReplyDeleteEverything about this is absolutely horrifying. From the level of deception when entering the camp to the fact that Frank Stangl bragged about how many people they could kill in such a short amount of time. The way they made room in the graves is especially sickening. However, it is good to see your trip ended on a more hopeful note. I am sure your grandmother is very proud of you.
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ReplyDeleteI forgot a word so I posted it again
DeleteIt's ridiculous the hold the Nazis had on their people. The ignorance and hate they all exhibited appalls me. The fact that a person, no not a person, a monster can be proud that his camp could kill 15,000 people in a 14 hour period is crazy. That's more than 1,000 people per hour. They also killed 99% of the people that arrived, which is horrifying. They beat people to run faster so they would die quicker, and when they ran out room to bury people they dug them up and grilled them. GRILLED THEM. The fact that they took fat from other bodies to burn more bodies faster is crazy. It really did make me happy that you found the town your grandmother was from, and people put pinecones around it to symbolize life. That made the terrible remnants of the camp a little better because you know there are people who go through the same turmoil, and they also found compassion in one of the most horrifying places in the world.
ReplyDeleteI got mind of mad when I twas about Frank Stangl. "I didn't do anything to anyone. My conscience is clear." I'm just sitting there thinking, "Yeah, you did. The Jews were PEOPLE. You killed 15,000 PEOPLE in less then 15 hours. Not 15,000 animals in less than 15 hours." But then I read about the stone which had your grandmother's town written on it. At first, before you said that you giving the stone represented the Jews comfort that they have now, I was thinking that it represented the people who have up their comfort, as you did yours, (The blanket) in order to help the Jews. It was really a great way to end your blog series.
ReplyDelete-Alexis Reid
It's sad how the entire time, the Jews were lied to and deceived by the Nazis. None of them knew the horrors that awaited, and to think they truly had no clue they would die is sickening. The part that really got me was that they were made to run faster so they could inhale the gas quicker. It's odd how all the chambers everywhere were destroyed as if they did not happen. It's great you found your grandmother's stone. It makes it a good way to conclude your visit to the camps.
ReplyDeleteI find it disturbing to know how many towns and families the Nazis took in just this one small camp. The fact that they spent time learning how to find more “efficient” ways to kill people such as placing fat from larger corpses onto smaller corpses so that they would burn better is simply sickening. The worst part about this is that people are still out to get jews today, as you said anti semitism still exists, the fact that a group of young Israeli teens needed an armed guard to protect them as they visited to learn is horrible. I can not understand how someone decided to kill all of these innocent people and then took and SOLD their belongings, to make a profit of 77 MILLION marks. It is sickening. Another sickening thing to think about is that the Nazis destroyed the gas chambers before liberation. I do not understand why they would do that if they were so proud, maybe because they regretted it? The fact that Frank Stangl said that his conscience is clear leaves me speechless, I can not begin to imagine what kind of insane they all had to be. To end on a more positive note, thank you for sharing your sign, I think it is wonderful that you were able to receive this sign. - Liz Montgomery
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad to think of all the Jews who were viciously murdered as soon as they arrived at the camp. Some thought that they were headed to a safe place but they were not at all. Frank Stangl must be a very evil and crazy man for not being the least sorry for what he did. He must have been super brainwashed or very twisted in the mind. It is also insane to hear that the main concern at the camp was to make the killing of the Jews more efficient. All of those German officers were blind to the mass murder that they were committing and they never questioned their duty, which is scary. It is sickening to hear that the German officers would make the Jews run so that they were out of breath so they would breathe more of the deadly gasses in. How evil is that? It is sad that anti-antisemitism is still happening today and under our noses. And even sadder that groups of Jewish teens needed body guards. Jewish people shouldn't have to have guards to walk around. The people of this world need to learn that it's just not right and to let it go. I also can't believe that the German officers burned all of the bodies because they ran out of space underground and put fat on the skinnier bodies so that they could burn faster. How could they be so evil and uncaring. It really makes me happy that you found a stone that had your grandma's town on it. And it was really sweet that you put the flag on the stone. It represents that the people alive today will never let this horrible era be forgotten, and the victims will never be forgotten either.
ReplyDeleteThat is insane that people were dead within two hours. I don’t even understand how they could do that so quickly, it even says that it was a small camp. It disgusts me how Frank Stangl bragged about how many Jews he killed in less than 14 hours, that is nothing to brag about. I am in shock with how they made Jews die faster, that is the most cruel thing I have ever heard. Who would even think of making them run out of air so they would breath in the gas faster?! It is also awful that they were lied to. I cannot believe it when I read that Jews had to dig up graves so that they could burn them for more room. What I could not believe even more is how the fat from the heavier corpses were put onto the skinnier so they would burn faster, that is insane! I can't believe how many stones there are, there must be hundreds! It amazes me how you found your grandmother's town’s stone out of hundreds, that is unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteI find it so disturbing that Stangl was proud of what he did and that he showed no remorse for his gruesome and inhumane actions. It scares me that there are methods for making mass murder more efficient, and it makes my skin crawl that people like Stangl made it their life's mission to discover what those are and use them to be capable of killing 15,000 people in 14 hours. It’s hard to believe that this only happened 85 years ago. It made me mad knowing that the Nazis made 77 million marks off of selling Jewish peoples’ clothes and personal items! How did Germans not know what was going on?! Nazis were selling personal effects from their victims who they viciously murdered in less than two hours! It makes me sick that there were so many rocks that represented cities that people were from I can’t even begin to imagine how many rocks would be there if it represented each person. I think it’s so amazing that your grandmother gave you a sign while you were at the last concentration camp, and of course she is proud of you Mrs. Stone!
ReplyDeleteXan Brien
ReplyDeleteIt was disturbing to hear that Frank Stangl was bragging about how many Jews he could kill in his camp. Also I thought it was terrible that the Nazis would chase the Jews into the gas chambers to make them out of breath and there for have them inhale more poison gas. it was sad to hear that the Nazis made so much money off the stolen Jews positions. I thought it was amazing how you asked your grandmother for a sign and then you saw the rock with her town's name on it. I also liked how you left the Israel flag on the stone.
Treblinka killing 15,000 people in just a matter of 14 days is horrific. So many lives lost just to make one person feel better. Since this is the last camp, and the one where your grandmother gave you a sign, I wish you could have felt better about tan nauseated, but you didn't have to see all the gas chambers and bunks where they suffered. They didn't even care enough about them that they just sent them right away to be prepared for gassing and killing within hours. I've heard that the German Nazis have hidden gold and treasures stolen from the Jews, but they still made money off of it, which is cruel since some of it is sentimental and is from family. All just to gain more money for a group of monsters. I smiled when I read about you leaving the Jewish flag where the city your grandmother lived in is in place with a stone. And I hope that in an afterlife u can spend time with your grandmother while she helped you in the camps and being a wonderful grandmother.
ReplyDeleteI hate how they lie to the Jews. Honestly, it will just make them even more scared and helpless, but I still hate it. It just makes everything about this even more messed up. What the Nazi's did was horrible and non-human. If that head SS officer was really sane, then he is completely psychotic . To brag about killing that many people is completely wrong and horrendous. He must have been mentally insane. Any Nazi must have been mentally insane to do what they did to these "vivtims". All of the stones and rocks represent how vast the Holocaust was and how may people actually were killed there. That is a lot of people, and those people should be honored.
ReplyDeleteFrank stangl is as evil, if not, more evil than Amon Goeth. How could you have a clear conscience from killing so many people in such a short time. And the whole time he was doing the despicable acts he could have stepped down and stopped the killing with no consequence but he didn't. Frank and Amon hold a special place in hell for the way they treated people. I am glad that you got a sign from your grandmother. It sickens me to think that the SS officers had a system for the Jews and poles to breathe in more gas at a quicker rate to kill them faster. These people that continue to support the Nazi regime and continue the anit-Semitism should take the same tour you did to see what they are supporting and how awful it is!!
ReplyDelete-Brady
Another death camp and another reason I could never forgive a Nazi. After learning about of another Nazi Commandant that somehow is still considered a human, It is clearly evident that the Nazi deserve no remorse. I believe that I have never learned of the subhuman by the name of Frank Stangl. In his Nuremberg Trial, this "man" bragged about how efficiently his "machine" was, which could be one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard. The very idea of death camp haunts society and myself as I cannot believe that no one ever intervened with the killing of "15 thousand people in a 14-hour period" which by itself is abysmal. But, thankfully, the sign from your grandmother at the end put a smile on my face. You, putting the Israeli flag on the Janow Poldaski stone is something out of book, very emotional both for the reader and for you.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine what went through the victim's heads as they arrived. They were all filled with great expectations, but deep down they all knew that they would not stay for long. The Nazis had convinced them that they will be put to work and told them of comforting things in order for them to let their guard down. They were also chased through the camp in order for them to take in deeper breaths of the poisonous gases. Stangl is a man of no emotion or remorse. He said that his "conscience is clear." How can you say that your conscience is clear if millions of other's aren't? I really liked the part about finding your grandparent's city in the thousands of other cities being represented. I liked most about it was that the pine cones were already there to symbolize life and that you did not bring them there, but used them to hold up the flag on top of the rock.
ReplyDeleteKilling them is one thing, but not telling them that that's what would happen is another. I think It's absolutely disgusting and repulsive how they could lead the Jews to believe they could be free when in reality they're just being prepared to be gassed. I can't believe anyone could do this to another human being. And then the fact that Stangl bragged about how fast his machine could kill, it's not a competition. It's gross and perverse. They were absolutely heartless and had no morals. Everything I read reveals another disgusting and cruel act they performed on innocent people. At least now there's a memorial where people can pay their respects and go to honor a loved one.
ReplyDeleteIt’s extremely sad that all the Jews who went to this camp were just killed. None of them were spared. It’s gross how the Nazis stole the Jewish people’s belongings and sold them for money. What Stangl said is truly sickening. I don’t understand how someone could feel that their conscience was clear after what they did. It’s so sad that the Nazis made the Jews run so that they would die faster. This is what people did to other people and that’s disgusting. It’s upsetting that Jewish people still need an armed guard to travel here because places in Germany are still so anti semitic. What the Nazis did to get rid of the bodies is absolutely disgusting. That is just horrible to think about. How could a human be okay with doing that to someone else. The rocks that represent the towns are very cool. The sign from your grandmother is truly amazing. The fact that you found that particular rock out of all the others is simply amazing. Your journey to all the concentration camps is truly inspiring. What you saw and what you learned is really a once in a lifetime experience. Reading the blogs fascinates me to learn more about the Holocaust. The blogs have opened my eyes to so many new things about the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteAgain and again, we see constant lying by the Nazis. Jews were a victim of manipulation by the Nazis thinking that they were going to be okay. In reality, they are most likely killed when they get there and that is just sad. It is very disturbing to see that Frank Stangl's was concerned that it "took too long" for Jews to be murdered. He wanted to reduce the time it took between the arrival of the victims and their murder. He wanted to kill 15,000 Jews in a span of 14 hours and that is just at an Alarming Rate. It is also surprising to see that there are no remainings of the gas chambers. Overall, through these magnificent and informative blogs, I have gotten to go through the journey with you on how concentration camps are right now and their background information.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that Stangl bragged about how many people he could murder in a 14 hour period. That really brought my mood down, like how can someone be like this. If he felt that what he had done was right, why is the camp no longer standing? If his conscience was truly clear, wouldn't he have wanted the camp to stay there? I suppose it could've been other people's decision though. I feel as though he is truly the "monster" many people have come to picture when they think about the people who executed the Holocaust. I was very shocked to read that the victims were forced to run so they'd breathe in gas more quickly and, therefore, die more quickly in the gas chambers. I am so shocked by this dehumanization. It is sick to me that someone would even think to do this. The amount of death that happened in this camp is just so unreal to me. It breaks my heart that so many people were killed here. I was uplifted, however, when I read about how you felt as though your grandmother had sent a sign to you. I thought that it was so fitting that you left your flag there, which had protected you through so much. I have a life story I would Like to share. My grate grandma left me a sign to let me know that she was there with me. When she was alive she used to always say that when she dies she'll be a butterfly. When she kicked the bucket I would always ask her if she would come visit me because I missed her. I had to wait a long time for my signal but I got one. This passed summer a beautiful brown butterfly would always appear when ever I thought about her and it would always follow me wherever I went. Mom saw this and just said Starka (that's what we called her), and the butterfly landed on her nose. At that point my Mom lost it. That the sign that Starka gave me.
ReplyDeleteIt is sticking to think that people could be guilt free and have a clear conscious when they were to think of the most efficient ways to kill masses of people. It is disheartening that humans were loaded into cattle cars and shipped to their deaths. They were treated like cattle, shipped in the same train cars and sent to their slaughterhouse. To know that the man responsible for this was proud and had a feeling of accomplishment even in the day of his trial is hard to foster as a truth because I cannot imagine someone that sick in the mind. Treblinka is a place of nightmares but it is no figment of the imagination it was a place of hell on earth where and estimated 900,000 Jewish people lost their lives. Women, men and children forced to their deaths and did not even know. The rest kept to live a life of labor and slave work that truly is a nightmare and I wish it was just that, a nightmare, not real.
ReplyDelete-Mitchell
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ReplyDeleteI was shocked when I read that 99% of the Jews that showed up to TreBlinka died in two hours! That’s an insane mass killing! I can’t believe Frank Stangl made a bt on how many Jews the death camp could kill, and he was deemed famous for killing the most in a short amount of time! I don’t see how anyone would know they would all be death within a few hours! The Jews thought they were going to be safe because the Nazis told them it’s all what they need to do to get out of the camps! I thought that Auschwitz, a huge camp, having 5 gas chambers was a lot, but this small camp had 10 gas chambers! No wonder they all died so fast! It’s like this camp was meant to be a record beaker. It made em so sad that the discrimination towards Jews are still around because the Jewish teenagers needed a guard with them while in the destroyed camp!
ReplyDeleteI still don’t understand how humans could build a place where they kill their own kind. It is disgusting to hear that Treblinka’s sole purpose was to murder and that those who arrived there were dead within two hours. It’s sickening to hear that men would actually brag about how Treblinka could murder 15,000 people in a 14-hour period. Why would someone brag about killing their own...I just don’t understand. I find it almost fascinating that they Nazis’ made it so the Jews had no idea that they would be dead within hours. It is appalling to hear that just like the victims of Majdanek, Treblinka’s Jews were lied to and made false promises so they would be rewarded if they worked hard. But their reward was their own death...that is just tragic to hear.
ReplyDelete-Ashley LeBlanc
Treblinka was a camp with the intentions to murder people. The people who arrived at the camp died within an hour. Wow. They knew immediately that they were gonna die no matter what. The fact that they got rid of them in such a short period of time makes me wonder what goes through their brains. How can one think killing someone is okay? They murdered 15,000 people in a 14 hour period. WTF. The fact that the Jews had no idea they were about to die until they entered the camp is so sad. They wanted the Jews to be out of breath so they could breathe in the gas deeper and die faster. The fact that their mindset was like that is horrible. They planned what they were going to do ahead of time. They didn’t kill 1% of the Jews so that they could bring the bodies to the graves. 1% is such a little amount. Thinking about how many Jews they killed is horrific. The Janow Podlaski stone probably meant so much to you. It must’ve been such a proud moment for you knowing that your grandmother was watching you. The flag you left is really significant and was such a great thing to do in honor of your family.
ReplyDeleteOnce I read how Frank Stangl acted during his trial I was appalled. Some of the Nazis really did think what they were doing was so meant to be. People like that disgust me and you can describe that as a fixed mindset almost. I hate always reading about how the Nazis deloused the Jews as if they were dirty and infectious. The only reason they would be dirty is from their week long train rides packed in a car with 90 other people!!!!!!! I also feel like the bees were a sign. They were a sign of the pain of all the Jews who went through that camp. I think that your grandmother was with you every step of your trip and it is no accident that at the camp she was closest to you found the rock of her town. She would be so proud of you for leaving the flag there.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 100 percent within two hours?!? Goodness gracious I’ve seen evil but this is just overboard. They sold their stuff too? How could governments disown people like this? I mean nowadays this entire thing would be illegal in terms of country laws and moral laws. “I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty.” You say this yet you assisted in killing over ten thousand every fourteen hours. I’m glad they were liberated but they should have kept the chambers for future reference, but I guess that’s not something you just think about at the moment. They even planned out how to put fat on skinner bodies after burning them which dang near petrifies me in fear thinking about it. Your grandmother is pretty good at hints… Two for two in the ones that I’ve seen. If only people were given hints before the were thrown into their grave.
ReplyDeleteI’m disgusted with the so called success Stangl expressed, as he boasted at the fact that he made it possible in Treblinka to murder 15,000 people within the span of fourteen hours. The following quote also leaves me with nothing but disgust as he attempts to justify his cruel mass murders, totally avoiding the fact that it was himself that was in the wrong. I couldn’t imagine containing the audacity to lie to ones face telling them that he or she will be fine, knowing there death is shortly nearing. It bothers me to see things like this in our history to take place based off of one's skin color, ethnicity, culture, and backgrounds. It is tough for me to even use hurtful language towards one let alone kill mass groups of people just based off there color. Many have to come to realization that is not just the killings that make one guilty. I believe one is guilty by even discrimination or racially profiling. This BS must come to a stop sooner or later!
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t surprised at all that the Nazis sold the Jewish peoples belongings. They probably all just saw them as useless people who they could walk all over and make money off of. I can’t believe that Stangl had bragged about killing that high amount of Jews in a little time period; If I was him I would not admit that because that is basically telling the court that you are guilty of whatever you have done and that you would have a longer sentence. It horrified me when they were made promises and they didn’t get them. They had worked hard for whatever they were doing and in the end they died because they were breathing in the air so much from all that work. I thought it was awesome that people were studying what happened so it won’t happen again, but yet they still felt unprotected that they needed a guard with them is so shocking!!! However, I did find it interesting when you wanted to stay and look more and when you did you found your grandma’s town. It brings me happiness to know that the jews won’t be harmed again. - Riley Dilsworth
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking to believe how 99% of people died in the first hour. I don’t even want of imagine the ways they were able to do this. I don’t get how Stangl hasn’t received as much attention as he should for the sadistic acts he has done and said. The fact that he faced a jury and bragged about his “accomplishment” shows how inhumane this man was to not be the slightest bit remorseful for brutally taking away thousands of innocent lives. I still think that it is awful that the Nazis would build a camp like this one with the sole intention of murdering innocent people. It will always fascinate me how an entire group of people could be filled with such hate and prejudice. Despite all of the pain that is contained within the grounds of Treblinka, I am glad that you were able to make a connection with your grandmother while you were there and were able to leave the flag on the stone at the camp.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this study of the Holocaust, I’ve been thinking about the debate of whether human nature is naturally good or evil. I always tend to lead towards good. It is stories like Treblinka that make me question if we are truly good-hearted people. In the first two hours of arriving at Treblinka, 99% of the people were killed. This wasn’t accidental, they had just enough space and no more for those that they planned to keep around and torture a little while longer. It sickens me to hear about the leader, Frank Stangl, BRAGGING about this and BRAGGING about how he could murder 15,000 people in a 14-hour period. He even made a point to let it be known that he had no regrets at all. I really hope this man of pure evil is just an exception and that we are not all capable of such horrible acts.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read that 99% of the people in this camp died in the first hour it horrified me. To have a 1% chance of living for the first hour of being at the camp is so crazy. I don’t know how it would feel to basically know you were going to die as soon as you got into the camp. Also, how could the Nazis take the Jewish peoples’ belongings and just sell it? Honestly, I’m not even surprised by this. The Nazis were so cruel that this wasn’t even close to the worst of their actions. In this day in society, if someone were to take someone’s belongings and sell them, they would be put in jail. The Nazis did so many things that if they were in today’s society they would be put to death. I am so horrified by the Nazis and believe that this is one of the worst things that has ever happened. Killing thousands of people because of their religion is disgusting, and I can’t believe this ever happened.
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking to me that the Nazis used belongings of Jews and sold them for a 77 million dollar profit. This means that they profited off of the Jews in order to make the murder more efficient. I find it disgusting that the Nazis took the fat in order for them to “burn easier.” I have heard several bad things about Stangl before this blog post. I knew that he was one of the head SS officers, but I was unaware that he was the cause of Treblinka and the reason thousands of Jews were killed so quickly. The stones really caught my eye and it was very interesting that you saw the stone of Janow Podlaski. It made me happy to see that you left the flag of Israel because of its meaning and comfort for the Jewish people to never forget. I have learned a lot from your personal experiences and opinions on the Holocaust, as well as the message “never forget.” Thank you for writing these blogs and allowing me to learn so much about the torment the Jews faced.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a journey it has been. I have never seen another teacher so passionate about their subject matter. You pour your heart and soul into your classes and blogs, and you make us care about what you're saying (which is more than what a great deal of other teachers can say about their classes). I already find it atrocious that these “people,” these Nazis, would trick, torment, mutilate, and work the Jews to death--and what's more, they BRAGGED about it! They were PROUD of the efficiency of their kills. And in the case of Treblinka, they often didn't even bother giving the Jews a chance to live; they were killed within hours of arrival after being beaten, “cleansed,” and forced to be worn down in order to make the killing process even faster and easier for the Nazis. They wanted their mass murders to be convenient!! And despite the fact that they were clearly so “proud” of their work, they still felt the need to destroy all evidence of what they had done??
ReplyDeleteIt was so enlightening to read about your grandmother after reading all of these blogs about unpleasant and horrible events. I can't imagine the joy you felt knowing that she was with you while you were traveling through all of these camps. The fact that you found the one stone with her town on it out of the thousands of stones there is so amazing. On a less positive note, the fact that they made them run just to get them tired in order to ultimately kill them faster is the absolute worst thing i've ever heard. They were almost making the time it took to kill the Jews a competition. It like they were saying who can kill the most Jews in the least amount of time? I mean it is absolutely revolting to see that Stangl was proud of his “accomplishment” of killing 15,000 people in 14 hours. I, also, found it horrifying to learn that the Nazis made money of the Jews’ belongings. The Nazis viewed the Jews as nothing, yet they viewed the Jews’ belongings as valuable; that is just so unnerving.
ReplyDeleteEven now in today’s society, with people being fully aware of the holocaust and the effects it had on people, there are still people who force others to need protection, by an armed guard, i thought this was extremely disappointing. The group of Israeli students were at the old location of the gas chambers of Germany, but still they had to be cautious of others for their own safety. The German Nazis were not truly sorry, even after that fact that they murdered so many innocent, the Nazis still had the Jewish people cleaning up their mess. Less than 1% of Jewish citizens were kept alive, not because people realized there wrongs, but because it made it easier on them. Easier to clean up the graves of their fellow friends, family and loved ones. Nazis killed over 99% of the Jewish population, even life for them after the Holocaust was strenuous.
ReplyDeleteIt’s so sick how people could create and follow through with such an atrocious large scale murder. All they would do is transport one group of people to another place, lie to their faces, and end their lives in a mass murder. One theme that I keep coming back to is how the Nazis lied to them saying it would be okay and that they would soon have a better life. That is just so demonic that they killed 99% of who came into Treblinka and saved another 1% to get rid of the bodies they had promised a better life. Yes a better life is shoveling the bodies of their communities and families. Even with all the negativity it was very sweet to hear about your grandmother. Im positive she is looking down smiling and thanking you over what you did. I’m sure in her life she would have never thought she would make such an impression on one person and have you preach and help prevent another mass tragedy.
ReplyDeleteThe story about your grandmother really touched me and shed some light on the whole situation. In a place so horrible, nothing could stop the strength of these innocent “victims” from showing through. It is sickening that the Jews were herded into this camp with no clue what was going on and then almost immediately murdered. Not to mention the Nazi who bragged about how many people they could kill in such a short amount of time. How on Earth could someone think that was something to brag about?? I hope he paid for his crimes. I cannot imagine how it felt to be a Jewish person sitting in that camp, or any of the camps for that matter, knowing that at a different time, it could have been you. That gives me chills, and
ReplyDeleteI’m not even Jewish. I think everyone who went through one of these camps, whether they got out or not, was incredibly brave.
-sophia r
First off I can’t believe that 99% of the people who went to this camp were killed. It just makes it worse to think how fast they killed people because they were treated as objects and animals. No human should ever be treated like that. Then when I heard about how this Frank Stangl bragged about how he could kill 15,000 people in 14 hours. Why would you ever want to brag about that? People like this should not be forgotten after the war; they should be captured and tried, we should not let them escape to Brazil. It was even worse that the Nazis would lie to the Jews and tell them that “They would be rewarded if they worked hard.” Did it ever cross the Nazis mind that it was never ok to murder innocent people? Did it ever cross there mind that making death factories was just wrong? I don't see how Nazis could kill if the “Prisoners” looked just like everyone else.
ReplyDeleteIt was shocking to read that 99% of the Jewish people that were forced into Treblinka were killed. It makes you also think about the other 1 percent, as you wouldn’t know what was going through their minds as they dug and reopened mass graves for the bodies of their friends and family. It hurts knowing that these people were beat and that the Nazis had a plan laid out for the Jews to get tired so they would inhale the toxic gases in deeper. After reading about Frank Stangl and how his conscience was clear after what he did to the thousands of Jewish people sent to his camp makes me wonder how a human could commit crimes like these towards other humans. It was also shocking reading about how the Nazis sold off the Jewish people’s belongings for a 77 million dollar profit. They took these innocent people belongings and then went on to kill them, and some didn’t even feel any remorse or anything wrong.
ReplyDeleteTreblinka was built for murder. 99% of the people who entered the camp died. The thousands of rocks each represent a city, imagine if the stones were there to represent individuals and not cities. There would be millions of rocks across that field. I was touched when you wrapped a Israel flag around that grave. The Jews were and always be free in Israel. Your journey may be complete, but mine has just begun and i want to learn even more about The Holocaust. I want to visit all the places you have visited during your journey to honor those who tragically lost their lives. From the bottom of my heart, i want to thank you for taking the time to write these blogs for us to experience the horrors involved with the Holocaust. I may not show it but i love your class and i will miss everything we did.
ReplyDelete-Wilson Hawes
Okay, so first off I kinda have to start off with my rant about the Nazis. So the first thing I have to say is that it is ridiculous for that man to have the audacity to say that his conscience was clear. I just simply cannot believe that someone who spent his days trying to figure out exactly how to reduce ,or lower, the amount of time it took for the concentration camp to kill more and more innocent Jews. This blog also made me feel even worse for the Jews because they were basically killed before they even had a chance to understand where they were. With that said though, I do have to admit that I honestly believe that if I were to be a during the Holocaust I would have much rather want to be taken to a death camp over something like the camp in Auschwitz because of the simple fact that I would not have to be tortured as much and I would also not have to live with the feeling of uneasiness because I don’t know when I’m going to die. To end this, I want to say congratulations Mrs. Stone on the completion of the trip and I’m very happy that you received that sign from your grandmother and I too am hoping that she is proud of you just like I am. :D
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe the nazis had a concentration camp that was mainly just meant for death. That’s obscured that 99% of the jews that went their died and the 1% that lived were forced to work and help move the bodies into mass graves. They made the survivors move their dead friends or loved ones into mass graves. That is the really messed up part because I couldn’t imagine moving my friends or family into mass graves i’d rather be dead with them. The commanding SS officer was such an A hole. His mission was to kill as many jews as possible. He didn’t care about torturing them or any of that he just wanted them to die quickly. I can’t believe that their were so many bodies they had to start cooking the victims because there wasn’t enough room in the mass graves for the dead jews anymore. I think that it's crazy how you saw the name of your grandmother's hometown after you asked her to show you a sign and I think it's amazing how you left your israel flag on that grave.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Adams
ReplyDeleteIt's ridiculous the hold the Nazis had on their people. The ignorance and hate they all exhibited appalls me. The fact that a person, no not a person, a monster can be proud that his camp could kill 15,000 people in a 14 hour period is crazy. That's more than 1,000 people per hour. They also killed 99% of the people that arrived, which is horrifying. They beat people to run faster so they would die quicker, and when they ran out room to bury people they dug them up and grilled them. GRILLED THEM. The fact that they took fat from other bodies to burn more bodies faster is crazy. It made me mad knowing that the Nazis made 77 million marks off of selling Jewish peoples’ clothes and personal items! How did Germans not know what was going on?! Nazis were selling personal effects from their victims who they viciously murdered in less than two hours! It makes me sick that there were so many rocks that represented cities that people were from I can’t even begin to imagine how many rocks would be there if it represented each person. The way they made room in the graves is especially sickening. However, it is good to see your trip ended on a more hopeful note. I am sure your grandmother is very proud of you.
It's crazy to hear how these people were treated. I can't believe 99% of people were killed right when they got there. I saw a documentary one time on one of the only two people that survived. He said he had to throw his family into a pit and burn them. It's disgusting how they beat them so they would run faster to the gas chamber so they could breathe the gas in better. The Nazi's were foul. When you talked about your grandmother this morning and the signs she would send you reminded me of what my grandfather did when he died. It was amazing that you were asking her for a sign and then you found the stone with her town on it. It was also cool that your trip ended peacefully. That is something that I don't think my mind could settle with.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin
Reading about this camp was harder than the other articles because the entire camp revolved around death. It was very depressing to hear about how to the Nazis, murdering the Jews was their job and Treblinka was their machine. With 99% dead in the first two hours, the Nazis had to have had a pretty strong motivation to kill innocent people. And then they had the nerve to sell the Jew’s belongings. To try and profit off the people that you just killed, you have to possess an extreme hate for them. What was especially surprising to me was how Frank Stangl bragged about how fast he could kill people. This is where I have a problem with some people saying they were just following orders, which may be true for some people, but there are people like Frank who get pleasure and take pride in killing innocent people. And after that, he still tried to say it was “his duty.” And it is sickening to read how the Jews were deceived even when they were walking to their death. I can only imagine how terrible it would be to arrive somewhere unfamiliar and then be marched to your death within a couple hours.
ReplyDeleteDavid Winslow
The quote from Stangl sickened me. It is crazy to me that someone can do terrible things like he did and not feel remorseful. He even bragged about how many people could be killed at his trial. That is truly evil and disgusting. Again, the Nazis were so deceitful about what they were doing. The fact that the camp was so small is awful because it just shows that people did not stay there for long. I don’t understand how people could sit around and come up with ways to kill people better. The fact that they thought to make them run so they would die faster is just truly sickening. It was also terrible to destroy all the gas chambers and the camp as if they could hide what they did. The story about your grandmother is so special. That is an amazing way to end your journey.
ReplyDelete-Jane Jeffries
I am utterly disgusted that a place like this was ever allowed to exist. “Prime concern was to reduce the time it took between the arrival of the victims and their murder.” This quote is horrible and Frank Stangl is a horrible man. His words, later on, add on to my hatred of this man. However, I think the worst thing about this information is that the Jews did not know they were going to die. This is a treatment that should be reserved for family pets before they go to be respectfully put down. Human beings should know if they’re going to die. I can’t believe that they were made to run either. Another terrible thing is the remnant hatred that persists and will persist for years to come. I understand that there will be hatred in the world pretty much no matter what, but I sincerely hope that old hatred will move along.
ReplyDeleteNate Reiney
I can’t believe that 99% of those who arrived died. And immediately. The 1% didn’t have it any better since they had to dispose of those bodies. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have to complete this job. It must have been so mentally and physically challenging. The Nazis not only stole lives, they stole everything from those who they murdered. It doesn’t surprise me that they would sell their possessions. They don’t deserve money. I think it is awful that Frank Stangl doesn’t have the slightest regret or apology. That’s ridiculous. I also was shocked by the fact that the Nazis burned many bodies on the grill. This is just horrid and especially to save like 30 minutes of their time. Wow.
ReplyDeleteElla Page
How did anybody come up with the idea of a place in our world that killed innocent people? It is astonishing to me that Frank Stangl felt nothing for the people he killed. I cannot believe that someone would actively choose to be in charge of a camp that killed over 15,000 people in 14 hours. I have found that some Nazis feel major guilt and pain after the Holocaust, but he felt none WHATSOEVER. Why would they tell the Jews that they needed to work hard when they were just trying to kill them? This reminds me of the sign over Auschwitz, but these people weren’t even given the chance to work. They were just killed. I can’t believe they beat the Jews to run until they were out of breath, so they would breathe in the poisonous gas faster. The details about this camp are extremely disturbing. I love that you were given a sign by your grandmother at the end of your trip. It is amazing that you saw her small town’s rock within the thousands of rocks surrounding it. Thank you so much for writing these blogs and including the many pictures you took.
ReplyDelete-Elyse Duley
The first piece of information that stuck out to me while reading this blog post was ONCE AGAIN the amount of deception from the Nazis. I cannot believe that they placed rocks and trees around the railroad tracks so that the Jews would not be able to look ahead and find out what their fate was. And, guess what? Even if the Jews could see ahead then they would just be told that they would have to work in order to gain freedom, but instead they were mass murdered. Something else that stuck with me was the group of Jewish students that had to have a guard travel with them so that they could be safe. Are people that horrible that they would try to do something to a group of people who were just trying to remember and learn about the past history of their community? I just cannot understand the level of hatred and prejudice that so many had towards Jews during the Holocaust. The last part that I wanted to talk about was the sign from your grandmother. I had accidentally read this blog before, but now that I know the story behind you and your grandmother and how she gave you signs, this makes a lot more sense to me. It makes me very happy that you were able to honor your grandmother by placing your flag on her town’s stone.
ReplyDeleteThe camp guard’s quote was sickening to read especially since he bragged about what he did. How can anyone be proud of the murder of millions! I’m also sickened by the number of stones erected for the towns of the victims. There are so many and that means so many more people were taken and I cannot stand that idea of so much death and destruction. I found the reminder of your grandmother to be sweet though and I was so overwhelmed by all that sadness that I had just read about, your small item of joy made me tear up. Thank you so much for sharing this journey!! -Madison Lastoria
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely horrified by the comment by Frank Stangl. The fact that he was bragging about being able to kill that many people so fast makes me physically sick. What got him to the point where he was happy about killing?? It makes me wonder how Eva Kore could ever forgive such an evil man. Although, what struck me most about Treblinka itself was how manipulative the entire camp was. The Jews were lied to the second they got their to the second they took their last breath. Although, the last part about the sign from your grandmother gave me so much hope. I thought that was such an amazing way to end your journey through all the painful concentration camps. It is truly incredible that out of the thousands of stones, you happened to stumble upon that specific one. If that isn’t a sign I don’t know what is!!
ReplyDelete-Sophie Slayden
I can't believe how remorseless Stangl was about the people he killed. Even after the war when he was in court, he BRAGGED about how fast he could kill people. Then he followed it with, "My conscience is clear." He had absolutely no emotions towards the thousands of lives that he alone took from innocent people. He tried to turn mass murder into a science.
ReplyDelete-Brian Ramsey
The fact that the Nazis made 77 million marks from selling all of the Jews’ belongings is awful. The Nazis already wanted to kill all of the Jews, but they decided it wouldn't hurt to make a little money while doing it. I don’t understand how Stangl could live with himself when his job was literally to increase the efficiency of killing the Jews. That seems like a terrible thing to think about every day, but he was so passionate about killing the Jews for whatever messed up reason. Of course, the Jews were tricked into the death camps by the Nazis. It kind of makes me wonder why word never got out that the Jews would never come back after being sent to these camps. I guess if the Nazis killed everyone then no one could tell the Jews what would happen to them if they got sent to the camp. It is very sickening seeing all of the imagery of the Jews being unloaded to go be killed.
ReplyDeleteMac Patterson
I never thought about survivors and descendants of survivors struggling to go back just to remember like the Israeli students. That is so upsetting that their family had to go through all of these terrible crimes against them, and 75 years later they still can’t visit safely. I do find the space left by Treblinka to look more peaceful than the other camps. All of the stones spread out over the whole green space gives as much remembrance as possible with the lack of documentation. I find it absolutely amazing that you saw that sign from your grandmother. At some point it is too big to be just a coincidence, and it’s crazy that something was telling you to not get on the bus yet. That sounds like a really meaningful and fulfilling way to end a very emotional trip. I hate that they had to dig up the bones in the mass graves. The worse thing is that the SS would not be digging up the bodies; instead the spared Jews would be forced to do that work. I will never be able to imagine how awful the end of their lives were. Pulling of skin from already rotting corpses would be torturous.
ReplyDeleteMoriah Campbell
It's insane to think how these death camps worked. Most of the people died within two hours! It's also insane to think of 1900 carts filled with valuables worst 77 million. The thing that got me flustered is Stangl’s need to kill the Jews as fast a possible then to BRAG about it. I don't get how someone gets to the point where they are bragging about killing countless people. Also, I can't imagine having to be the one percent that had to help with the bodies. Seeing my family and neighbors would crush me.
ReplyDelete-Carson Bahr
Wow. I cannot believe Frank Stangle was bragging about how he could “murder 15,000 people in a 14 hour period.” How can he not realize how disgusting that is? How would he feel if some of those 15,000 people were his family members or friends? I am also astonished by him saying that his “conscience is clear” because it was his “duty.” It just goes to show how people can so easily blame their actions on the fact of their superior told them so. I also cannot believe how many towns were represented by the stones. I am unable to begin thinking about how many people that is. The amount of duplicity the Nazis had towards the Jews continues to astonish me. I will never be able to wrap my mind around them being able to tell the victims that they would be rewarded if they worked hard despite them knowing that the Jews would be killed within hours. That amount of cruelty is impossible to understand. Also, the fact that the Nazis were able to remove fat from heavier corpses and put it on skinner ones is absolutely horrifying! I do not know how they were mentally able to do that. Lastly, I really loved the part about your grandmother giving you the sign. I have lost all four of my grandparents myself, so I know how comforting it is to feel like they are present in your life. Thank you, Mrs. Stone, for writing this blog.
ReplyDeleteHalsey Patrick
I try to stray from only looking at the numbers because of the sheer enormity, but with Treblinka, it was hard not to. The fact that 99% of the people who passed through were killed is difficult to fathom. There are so many what could've been moments for these victims. It is camps like Treblinka that make me realize how different the world would be if the well-oiled machine known as the Holocaust had rusted sooner. The rocks in place of the victims are a beautiful sort of sad. I'm proud of the young Jewish teenagers who went to better understand their heritage; they keep the memory alive, and I couldn't respect them more. The presence of a guard, although a reminder of antisemitism, shows how far we've strayed from SS guards. There is still a long ways to go though. Among all the suffering at Treblinka, it was touching to hear that your grandmother sent you a sign despite the endless distance. There is always some sort of hope, even when places like Treblinka once existed.
ReplyDelete-Annie Vedder
ReplyDeleteI get "being proud of your country" and I respect it sometimes, but what type of arrogant thing head for a lack of better words brings up the entire reason why he is being tried at trial and brags to everyone at the trial about the reason why he was at trial. In. Trial. Did I say it was in trial? Like at least show some common decency not even respect or remorse or love just like shut up like literally just shut up I get it you had fun murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent people but just shut up and I feel like Benjamin right now because of how blunt I am being but come on. Anyway, back to the topic, I think the people that cause hatred to the extent where Jewish people have to have an arm guard with them at a death camp that worries me that the scumbags that made the death camp in the first place are still around causing fear. I think it is really nice you found something positive there because that makes me believe that good can somehow be seen and come from evil roots, which is good to know and remember.
ReplyDeleteRyan Szeker
I am disgusted by the quote by Frank Stangl. I cannot understand what type of evil person would feel satisfaction from bragging about killing so many people. The fact that 99% of those who walked through Treblinka were killed is heartbreaking, and I cannot believe that only two people ever escaped Treblinka. Throughout this unit, I have learned that there are many Nazis who feel repentant for their actions, but I cannot understand why others like Stangl feel no guilt or pain from having killed so many innocent people. I also don’t understand why any Nazi would have volunteered to kill people all day in the first place. Something that really stuck out to me was how manipulative the camp was. I don’t understand why the Nazis would tell prisoners that they would be put to work but then would instead take them immediately to be killed. This seemed like a waste of time for the Nazis. Finally, I think it is so amazing how you have received signs from your grandmother to let you know that she is with you. Your grandmother truly was a symbol of hope.
ReplyDelete-Sara Trochanowski
My reaction after reading this was very sad. Wheneer I picture the Holocaust, I picture this exact camp. When you really read this article, the fear and deception of the Holocaust really consumes you. I am glad that your grandmother gave you another sign, Mrs. Stone. The fact that you were able to spot her hometown out of the countless stones was truly amazing. I think that worst part about this process was that the Jews did not know they were going to die. But all I can imagine is the moment that this realization dawned on them. What would you do in that moment? Do you panic or do you immediately come to terms with your fate. The grossest part about this entire camp was not only were they killing human lives but they wanted to kill these lives even more efficiently. The people who felt this way about the camp have something wrong in the head. I know that you can't say that all Nazis are psychotic. But how can these Nazis are sane if they experience so many people dying within two hours. I was extremely disturbed by this blog but was left with a hopeful feeling at the end of the blog.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many parts of Treblinka that were severely disheartening. First off, 99% of those who arrived died in the first two hours. The Jewish people were given no chance of survival unless they were chosen to help disintegrate the dead bodies even then, those chosen represented only 1% of those who arrived. The Nazis then made money (77 million marks) on the Jew's clothing! There are too many things for me to list that's wrong with selling their leftover clothing. Selling their clothes only adds to the evidence which supports how much the Nazis believed the Jewish population was sub-human. Reading about Stangl made me sick to my stomach. Even after being captured and on trial, he bragged about the amount of Jews him and his officers could kill. Stangl is one SS officer I don't think I could forgive. Reading about the pinecones reminded me of the sunflowers planted over the Nazi's bodies. As the Sunflower connected life to death, the pine cones around the Jewish cities stones also represented life. In this case, the pinecones weren't purposely scattered around. They simply landed there, which makes them even more meaningful. --Marin Boulware
ReplyDeleteIt's more than disgusting how the Nazis tried to perfect this death machine. It wasn't enough to separate the Jews, to demean them, to kill them, but the Nazis chose to perfect the killing method. Imagine forcing actions of the Jews with the sole goal of expediting the murder process. Every thought was geared towards minimizing time and maximizing death. Making the Jews run and putting the fat from larger bodies to smaller is repulsive. I believe that many views on forgiving the Nazis would change if everyone were informed of the process that the Nazis took.
ReplyDelete"I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty. My conscience is clear" (Stangl). This quote is unbelievable. Duty does not clear conscience. This is either a false statement to cover guilt or this man is insane. The actions were still performed. Stangl took an active choice every single day to murder. He may believe his conscious is clean, but if so, it's solely because that man doesn't regret his choices not because his superiors absolved him of guilt. I really appreciate the symbolism of leaving the Israeli flag there. It's almost the ultimate slap in the face to the Nazis. Leaving proof of the Jews' triumph and enduring grit in the fight. It leaves proof that the Nazis failed on the site of the death camp. Fitting.
-Ely A
This post truly revealed how sickening the Nazis were. They killed 99 percent of the prisoners who entered, and they only kept one percent of the prisoners so that they could transport the dead bodies. The fact that Stangl even bragged about his ruthless killing machine proves how awful the Nazis were. Stangl did not show any remorse of regret of any kind. Also, the amount of deception that the Jews faced is terrifying; they had no idea that they were being led to their deaths. I can't even imagine being in their situation. Although this blog post revealed the disgusting nature of the Nazis, I thought that the sign you received from your grandmother was so amazing. First, she gave you the sign when she turned your TV on in the middle of the night. That in addition to the grave marker you saw must have been incredibly reassuring.
ReplyDelete-Caroline Mecia
This is just demonic. Not one Jew that came through here survived, in fact they were pretty much dead within the first two hours. Then they sold the carts that the Jews were carried in, for a lot of money as well! It's crazy that the Jews weren't aware of their upcoming demise, because they were deceived and lied to. It's disgusting that the Nazis would even beat them before the Jews were put into the gas chambers just so they'd die quicker, but is that better? The thing is, the Nazis didn't do that so they'd suffer less, it's because they had so many people to kill, so they had to kill the Jews as fast as possible. It's very sad that even today if you're a Jew visiting one of these camps you might not be safe, and might need an armed guard with you. -Jayden Childress
ReplyDeleteWhat shocks me the most regarding this post is the SS officer. He was in charge of the entire camp, and he was so proud of his “accomplishments.” In his war trial he didn't even try to act guilty. He proudly proclaimed that he could kill 15,000 people in 14 hours. He boasted and told the court he had no remorse. I don't understand how someone in charge of a death camp can feel good about their actions. It's also so sad that the individual can't be remembered because the Nazis didn't even want to keep a record of the people they kill. I think it's nice that they used the stones to represent all the towns people were taken from. The amount of stones is shocking, but I am so glad you found your grandmother’s stone! -Macey Smith
ReplyDeleteI love how this camp had a happy ending for you! With all the emotions you must have endured through your journey it is relieving to see happiness. I think that its no coincidence that you found your grandmother's stone. Its great to see your Grandmother looking out for you and guiding you, and i'm sure that you will make her proud. Through all you blogs, your story about your grandmother sending signs an guiding you is the only this i can relate to personally. Now to change the subject, these types of camps are God awful. The Jews are given hope by the Nazis only to be killed hours later. And the fact that the SS officer was proud that he could kill over 15,000 Jews in 14 hours is indescribably horrific.That man must be brainwashed because a sane person would never boast about such as thing.
ReplyDelete-Carter Hensley
It's heartbreaking that the Nazis told the Jews that they were only relocating. What's even worse is that Nazis brought these Jews here specifically to kill them, and yet spent the last moments of these innocent victims' lives working them, lying to them. torturing them. Stangl, the head officer of this camp, said that he did not feel responsible nor guilty for what HE put these people through because he was not directly killing them. Even though he was literally the one who maximized the efficiency of the kills. It's funny how he takes credit and gloats about his "accomplishments" in times where it makes him look good, but he can't take the credit when he is being held responsible. I guess that goes to show how Nazis are wired.
ReplyDelete-Giuli Iannitti
The worst part about this camp was how Stangel thought of his job as just a job, nothing else. The fact he could kill entire communities, families, and humans without stopping for even for a second to think that something is wrong with you is sickening. The fact that he is BRAGGING about how "good" he is, and how "Treblinka could murder 15,000 people in a 14-hour period." and still feel you have a clear conscious, it simply cannot be put into words how disgusting that is.
ReplyDelete-FIlip Weil
I really enjoyed the part about your Grandma. I was really shocked that the leader was boasting about the camp and it's ability to kill people. It shows the amount of value Jewish people had or rather lack of. This shows the mindset the Nazis had during the war and how they truly thought they were doing the right thing. I was impressed that you took the time to place the Israel flag on the tombstone. It was a nice notion to show that the Jewish faith succeed in surviving the Holocaust. -Taylor Fleeman
ReplyDeleteI am disgusted and horrified by the lack of remorse Stangl showed. I am appalled by the fact that he thought it would be a good idea to brag about his success at murder at his own trial. He thought of his job as just a job. Was he psychopathic or intensely brainwashed? I found it very concerning that the Israeli young-ins needed an armed bodyguard. How can people blatantly disregard history?
ReplyDelete-Cooper Owens
I didn't think it was possible, but Treblinka was even more disgusting. The fact that any human ever would brag about taking lives is truly atrocious. It seems that as the war progressed, the Nazis became more open about their actions and true intent. It’s also unbelievable that they didn’t have regret or remorse. I wish we could educate more people about the Holocaust and get everyone to promise “never again.” It’s absolutely heartbreaking that you saw your grandmother’s town written among the stones, especially as you were about to leave forever. Your connection with her seems incredibly special, and the fact that you have a personal connection to the concentration camps make the blog truly unique and it’s astonishing to experience the camps through your eyes.
ReplyDelete- Ava Clark
I hated reading about how the person was bragging about how he murdered is atrocious. How can you find worth in killing others? It also stuck out to me how the Israeli group of teenagers still had to be guarded by the soldier because of the semitism that still exists today. What could be going through their minds? Wondering if they're safe while protesting their own safety. I glad your grandmother reached out to you in this camp. I can't image what being at this death camp could be like. I truly hope the world will open their eyes, and this event will never happen again.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this blog I was informed about Treblinka and everything that happened within the camps. The Nazis were just evil people who cared about nothing, but covering their tracks of the heinous crimes and killings they were committing. I was shocked on how Stangl said he did nothing wrong and that his conscience was clear. You have to be a certain type of evil OR brainwashed to think that the things he was doing was okay. I enjoyed seeing the different pictures of the rocks that represented the cities as a whole where the Jewish people came from. I also felt disheartened for the many Jews who only thought they were being relocated, but instead were being taken to their “final destinations.”
ReplyDeleteThe SS officer in charge of making the camp "more efficient" is horrible. People figure out how to make the production process of products more efficient, not the killing of people. He was so happy with the fact that his camp could kill 15,000 people in 14 hours. I truly don't understand how someone in charge of killing 15,000 innocent people and hour could be capable of feeling good about their actions. I am glad you finished your journey with a peaceful ending and I am glad you created this blog to share with us your experience. I hope that one day, I can also visit these sites.
ReplyDeleteThere are evils in the world that I will never be able to understand. The things that took place in this camp just simply don't make sense to me. I wish to call the Nazi's such awful hate filled words, but I feel none would do their level of disgust justice. Reading that a Nazi even claimed "I have done nothing to anybody that was not my duty. My conscience is clear" knocks the wind out of me. Despite these horrors, I appreciate your fire to fight against the wrongs that have been done. Even though this camp was a place of death and destruction, there is love that exists between the Jews who have fallen and those who refuse to let their memory or honor fade. I believe that is beautiful.
ReplyDelete-Ailish Coughlin
It was sickening to read about what the Nazi's did, but it was an eye opener as well. For the Nazi's to murder over 15,000 people in 14 hours, and be proud of it, is horrific. For any Nazi to say their conscious is clear is simply false. I think the Holocaust is something to never forget, and you're doing the right thing by speaking about it. I respect everything you're doing for not only us as students, but for the Jewish community.
ReplyDelete- David Hanley
The efficiency of the death camp didn’t surprise me. However, I was disgusted to discover that 99% of the Jews were killed and most within two hours of arriving. I wonder if all of the money they stole from the Jews went into funding their destruction; that would an especially cruel type of irony. I became horrified when I heard how Stangle bragged and told the jury about his clear conscience. How much could you hate a group of people to make these inhumane actions seem okay? Furthermore, the Nazis forcing the Jews to run so they would inhale more emphasizes how experienced they were at murder. I can’t even begin to imagine how your grandmother's sign began to make you feel.
ReplyDelete~ Savannah S
test emma
ReplyDeleteI think it is crazy how the Nazis sold the Jewish people belongings after they took them away to the concentration camps. I also think that it is crazy to hear that Stangl’s main concern was to kill inmates sooner after their arrival to Treblinka. It fascinates me that the Nazis were able to fool jews and draw them to concentration camps by telling them they would be rewarded for working hard. I do think it is smart, in a horrible way though, that the Nazis figured out that making the jews out of breath would cause them to die faster in the gas chambers. It is weird to me that the gas chamber buildings did not survive. It is unfortunate that you did not get to see even one of the ten gas chamber buildings that were at this concentration camp. I feel like it would be really interesting to see even though terrors and horrible deaths occurred in them. The whole plan and system the Nazis had, especially for burning the corpses, is crazy and I could have never imagined someone coming up with such a thought out plan for burning bodies. It is amazing how you were able to find your grandmother's town among all the rocks that were there. I also think that it is really cool that there are thousands of rocks extracted from different towns to represent the towns affected by Nazism. After looking at all the pictures and comparing the past to the present, I think it is crazy to believe that the old pictures are at the same place as the new ones. The old pictures look very dark and bring a pit in my stomach. The new pictures though are really pretty. It is crazy how something so horrible and gruesome can turn into an amazing and beautiful place where you now honor those who did lose their lives at this concentration camp.
ReplyDeleteI think it is crazy how the Nazis sold the Jewish people belongings after they took them away to the concentration camps. I also think that it is crazy to hear that Stangl’s main concern was to kill inmates sooner after their arrival to Treblinka. It fascinates me that the Nazis were able to fool jews and draw them to concentration camps by telling them they would be rewarded for working hard. I do think it is smart, in a horrible way though, that the Nazis figured out that making the jews out of breath would cause them to die faster in the gas chambers. It is weird to me that the gas chamber buildings did not survive. It is unfortunate that you did not get to see even one of the ten gas chamber buildings that were at this concentration camp. I feel like it would be really interesting to see even though terrors and horrible deaths occurred in them. The whole plan and system the Nazis had, especially for burning the corpses, is crazy and I could have never imagined someone coming up with such a thought out plan for burning bodies. It is amazing how you were able to find your grandmother's town among all the rocks that were there. I also think that it is really cool that there are thousands of rocks extracted from different towns to represent the towns affected by Nazism. After looking at all the pictures and comparing the past to the present, I think it is crazy to believe that the old pictures are at the same place as the new ones. The old pictures look very dark and bring a pit in my stomach. The new pictures though are really pretty. It is crazy how something so horrible and gruesome can turn into an amazing and beautiful place where you now honor those who did lose their lives at this concentration camp.
ReplyDelete- Emma Groves
I find it shocking that although Treblinka was a death camp, majority of the people sent there were dead within two hours. I also find it interesting that they would load up a bunch of Jews only to sell them. What would be the point of selling Jews if your goal was to eliminate all of them in order to make the aryan race. Stangl is a very cruel man. I find it shocking that his goal was to cut the time between arrival and murder of the Jews. What’s the difference if all the Jews are going to be killed anyways? It makes sense that Treblinka was known for this if he was the head SS officer of this camp. It's sickening to hear how he would brag about how many people he could kill and how fast. It's hard to imagine those words coming out of a humans mouth. What kind of morals would you have that would allow you to be proud of such a thing. And then for him to claim that his conscious is clear and that everyone he kills deserves it. Stangl seems to be one of the cruelest people on earth with twisted morals. It's horrible how the Jews were lied to when arriving at this death camp. The officers made them suffer just to make their deaths more painful. What would be the point of shaving their heads and treating them like prisoners if they'll be dead in a couple hours. I'm not surprised that they would keep a small amount of Jews alive in order to do the dirty work for the Nazis. Its very inconsiderate how they would make them carry their possible friends and families dead bodies to be buried. Hearing how they would treat the dead bodies is shocking. The way the nazis so easily handled them without a care shows how inhumans they truly were. It's reassuring to learn that this death camp is now a place where people can go visit to honor those who lost their lives. The pictures of the rocks representing the Jews is overwhelming because it shows how many innocent people lost their lives. I think it’s sweet how as Mrs. Stone was leaving she found the rock that represented her grandmother. I like how she wrapped the flag around the rock that had brought her comfort for the whole trip and now it will serve as a remembrance to the Jews that were murdered and her grandmother.
ReplyDeleteEmary Gordon
I was astounded to learn how small this camp was. The camp, Treblinka was built for one purpose, to murder. Treblinka was a small death camp built near the town of Warsaw Poland. Was shocked to learn that this camp had no selection process. This meant that the Jews had no chance of surviving. Almost all of the prisoners sent to this camp were dead within 15 hours. That is unbelievable. How can other humans do that to one another. The Jews were unloaded off the cattle cars and then sent through a physical running exercise. This one done on purpose, so they would breathe in the gas faster. The main SS guard in charge of the camp bragged during the war trials about how Treblinka could kill so many people in such a short time. That’s horrible. During his trial he said I have done nothing that was not ordered to me. This was one of the excuses we learned about in the Milgram experiment. The Jews going to the camp had no idea that they would be dead in hours. The Nazis then took all of their belongings and sold them for a great amount of money. All of the camp was destroyed during the war. I was saddened to hear that the Israeli students needed a guard to follow them while traveling. As a result of all of the killings the camp was overcrowded. The Nazis them made the Jews dig up the dead bodies and burn them to create more space. I was relieved to hear that Mrs. Stone left a flag on the rock symbolizing her grandmother’s home town.
ReplyDeleteAnn slegelmilch
ReplyDeleteThe proximity between Poland and Treblinka is crazy to me. At first, 60 miles may seem like a lot, but it really isn’t. Poland was one of the largest Jewish countries before the Holocaust, and to implement a concentration camp so close to a Jewish country is extemely disrespectful and a horrible thing to do to such a wonderful culture. It’s horrifying to think that 99% of the Jews were dead within two hours of being in the concentration camp, but one question arises for me. What happened to the one percent of surviving Jews after that two hours? Were they just killed in a bit more time? Were they used for labor? 1,900 is a very large number. Especially when it’s referring to carts carrying Jews, and I’d imagine that each cart was filled to the brim with Jews. That’s thousands upon thousands of innocent lives lost, and just at one of the many concentration camps.
Sam Wofford
They were dead within two hours of arrival. WOW! How fast they were able to kill astonishes me. The Jews taken to Treblinka didn’t even have a chance of surviving because there was no selection. People like Stangle have the most messed up conscious, and they always find a way to blame someone else. Being able to brag about how fast you can kill 15,000 people is just disgusting. I have read about all of the different types of trickery the Nazis used during the Holocaust but reading this made me think. The Nazis had to put so much deep thought into how they could deceive the Jews, and it disgusts me. I love the way the memorial was set with the benches representing the railroad tracks and the stones commemorating the cities where victims were from. This shows that so much thought and heart was put into creating these memorials. It made me smile so wide when I read about your grandmother. It’s so special to find a place with meaning and personal connection.
ReplyDelete- Ashley Szymonski
After hearing about all of these death camps, it is honestly sickening. The Jews were told that they were being relocated and within two hours of arriving at the camp, 99% of the Jews were flat out murdered. The other 1% of the Jews were forced into the labor of disposing of the dead bodies and burying them. These Jews would often have to bury their dead friends and family. This camp was a little more isolated than Majdanek, but I still feel that there is no way that the commoners “were unaware” of the events taking place. The SS commander in charge of the camp made it his goal to reduce the time between arrival and murder. I guess this was good because they didn’t have to be misled like they were in Majdanek, but it still surely isn’t good. Even though they weren’t misled to “Bath and Disinfection” houses, they were still misled in the reason for their arrival.
ReplyDeleteEmi Jones
Sounds awful. Frank Stangl nauseated me. The fact that he was bragging about killing 15,000 people in a 14 hour time period made me so mad. That is never something to brag about and have a clear conscience. He must be insane. Wow, that sign from your grandmother is powerful. That's just amazing. That reminds me of a time I experienced. I was at the beach one night sitting on a hammock with my mom, and we started talking about my grandfather, who i never got to meet. My mom said to her dad, "If you are watching, show us a shooting star." Moments after, take a guess at what happened... a shooting star shot right by. I have treasured this moment for years and will never forget. I'm happy that your grandma gives you so many signs; it must be comforting knowing she's there.
ReplyDeleteSofia Christofaro
Soren Gautam
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, this is one of the worst concentration camps. The Nazis once again misled the Jews into thinking they were moving to a safer location only to kill 99% of them when they arrived. The remaining Jews then had to get rid of ALL the dead Jews. I can't imagine how hard it would be to dispose of someone you knew or even a family member. The reason that all the Jews were killed so quickly when they arrived was because the SS in charge had decided or been told to kill the Jews as fast as possible once they arrived at Treblinka. Overall, it makes me so angry and frustrated that the Nazis killed so many Jews near the end of the war only because they knew they would lose and be caught/captured soon.
I questioned how and why any kind of people, organizations, or companies would purchase belonging of innocent people who were soon murdered after having their belongings forcefully stripped fro their backs. The fact that these belongings profited the Nazis a total of 77 million marks out of one concentration camp is shocking and helps give an idea of just how many innocent people were wrongfully brought there to die. I couldn’t believe that it was someone’s prime occupation to formulate a way to reduce the time between which the children, men, and women arrived and were murdered like it was a math problem. This goes to show just how numb the Nazis were to the slaughter of human beings, especially the high-ranking ones such as Frank Stangl. It was extremely saddening to hear that the Israeli teens still needed an armed guard so many years after the Holocaust because of all the anti-semitism that still exists today.
ReplyDeleteLeo O’Neill
Jordan Browning
ReplyDeleteIt's insane that people were dead within two hours; especially after they probably traveled for days to get there!. I can't even comprehend how they could kill them so quick as the amount of Jews arriving at a time was probably large. It disgusts me how Frank Stangl bragged about how many Jews he killed in less than 14 hours. I am in shock with how they made Jews die faster by having them run so they would breath in the gas faster! Just another example of deception from the Nazis. I'm disgusted that Jews had to dig up graves so that they could burn them for more room. The Nazis truly did put a lot of thought into the whole process by figuring out to put the heavier corpses onto the skinnier so they would burn faster. The amount of stones there is incredible. It's astonishing that you found your grandmother's town’s stone out of hundreds.
I can't believe that 99% of the Jews who arrived at Treblinka were killed within two hours. It is also unbelievable that the few who lived were used for the disposal of their dead friends and relatives. It seems to me that the Nazis did not only want to kill the Jews, but they wanted to torture them as much as possible in the process. The Nazis were ruthless and cruel in every way. It disgusts me that Frank Stangl bragged about the absurd number of Jews he could kill in a time period of 14 hours. It is awful that he claimed a clear conscience for his actions and showed no remorse. Like so many others, he claimed he was just doing his job. The Nazis were very calculated in the way they handled every situation. They continually searched for ways to more effectively massacre their victims. The Nazis would chase the Jews, so they were breathing at a more rapid pace when they arrived to the gas chamber. It amazes me that the Nazis studied the science of burning bodies enough to know the fastest way to burn each body type. It is incredible that you found the stone for the town of your grandmother. I imagine that this was a very emotional journey, and it seemed to have a symbolic and fitting end.
ReplyDeleteStanton Bryson
Wow. I thought Auschwitz was horrible. This might top it. They could murder 15,000 people in 14 hours. What is wrong with them? The designers have to be actual psychopaths. Theres no "if" about it. They were psychos. Bragging about it. BRAGGING! How can you brag about that. What possessed them? What demons were they?
ReplyDelete-Ethan Fronapfel
First off, I would like to say that the fact that you found your grandmother's rock is remarkable. She was watching you and gave you a sign that she was there and loved you. I LOVE that you put a flag on the rock to protect the Jewish people who died there. One thing that shocked me was how the SS officer was bragging about how fast he could kill people. What kind of sick human would ever do that? This just goes to show how cruel and twisted the Nazis' values were during this time. I find it absolutely absurd that a security guard had to protect the group of Israeli teenagers. The fact that antisemitism exists after such an inhumane moment in history is sickening. I hope the world moves on from prejudice and accepts all people as equal.
ReplyDeleteAva Harrell
My immediate reaction to the beginning of the blog was frustration and sorrow. Reading that “99% of those who arrived at Treblinka were dead within two hours” really put into perspective how the process worked. There was no time wasted and no sympathy given; Nazis were just getting the job done. Stangl’s mentality of the need to reduce the time it took between the arrival of the victims and their murder was so inhumane. Trying to cut down time to get a job done or finish one’s homework is completely different than killing people as fast as possible. Also, Stangl said that his conscience was clear, but it was so far from clear that I cannot put it into words. It disturbed me to hear that the 1% of Jews who weren’t killed had to take the dead bodies to mass graves. I feel that I would have much rather died than had to pick up limp bodies of people who were killed for no reason… people just like me. I could not look into the empty, innocent faces and continue as though it wasn’t a big deal. So, I feel terrible for the 1% who did live at Treblinka because they were forced to do the most miserable work. It was very cool to read that you were brought to stone of the town where your grandmother was born, and I believe that it was a sign to you like you said.
ReplyDelete-Gillian Morano
I think it is crazy how the Nazis sold the Jewish people belongings after they took them away to the concentration camps. I also think that it is crazy to hear that Stangl’s main concern was to kill inmates sooner after their arrival to Treblinka. It fascinates me that the Nazis were able to fool jews and draw them to concentration camps by telling them they would be rewarded for working hard. I do think it is smart, in a horrible way though, that the Nazis figured out that making the jews out of breath would cause them to die faster in the gas chambers. It is weird to me that the gas chamber buildings did not survive. It is unfortunate that you did not get to see even one of the ten gas chamber buildings that were at this concentration camp. I feel like it would be really interesting to see even though terrors and horrible deaths occurred in them. The whole plan and system the Nazis had, especially for burning the corpses, is crazy and I could have never imagined someone coming up with such a thought out plan for burning bodies. It is amazing how you were able to find your grandmother's town among all the rocks that were there. I also think that it is really cool that there are thousands of rocks extracted from different towns to represent the towns affected by Nazism. After looking at all the pictures and comparing the past to the present, I think it is crazy to believe that the old pictures are at the same place as the new ones. The old pictures look very dark and bring a pit in my stomach. The new pictures though are really pretty. It is crazy how something so horrible and gruesome can turn into an amazing and beautiful place where you now honor those who did lose their lives at this concentration camp.
ReplyDelete- Emma Groves
This camp’s goal was to kill the Jews in a little time as possible and they took pride in that. It was shocking to read that 99% of the Jews would be dead within only 2 hours of arrival. I was awe when Stangl, one of the officers who worked at the camp, ON TRIAL bragged that they could kill 15,000 Jews in just 14 hours and what makes it even more incredible is that he claimed his conscience was clear. How could anyone say those things on trial; this man really did not give a heck about the innocent lives he had stolen. This proves how heartless some of the Nazis were. It’s heartbreaking that the remaining 1% of Jews who were not killed within their first few hours of arrival were forced to deliver the bodies of people they once knew to the mass grave? No one can possibly imagine the heartache the victims felt having to bury their own people because of twisted, wicked people. It is truly remarkable that you were able to find your grandmother’s gravestone after asking her for a sign, and I’m truly sorry that she had to suffer in that treacherous camp.
ReplyDelete-Lila Barenberg
While reading this blog post, I was informed of the short amount of time between when a Jew would enter Terblinka and when they would be killed. A short 2 hours was the time they had in the camp. They were transported to various places and when they finally got to a camp that was promised to be safe for them, they were killed within 2 hours. I also learned that Treblinka didn’t have a selection. Every Jew that came through the gates to the camp was eventually killed. People weren’t even given a chance at survival. This is absolutely heartbreaking because people that entered this camp were automatically killed, stripping them of the possibility of being a Holocaust survivor. I was absolutely shocked that Treblinka’s head SS officer said his own conscience was clear after he participated in the murder of hundreds of thousands. His ego is repulsive and makes me even more confused as to what the SS’s motivations were for killing.
ReplyDelete-Lexi Amedio
One thing from the blog that gave me joy was the fact that you found your grandmother’s grave. It was very nice of you to honor her and make you feel life with her again. I am proud that you made your grandmother happy! I was shocked to hear that almost everyone of the Jews was brought straight to death. I thought that all of the concentration camps included a selection process, but this one seems to be filled with more cruelty. It is unsound to hear that the Jeqws died within the first two hours with no knowledge of death ahead of them. Also I am disgusted that the Nazis would tire out the Jews so they would be killed easier in the gas chambers. Only 1% of the Jews were not killed and of course they were selected to carry the Jews out to the mass graves. How did the Nazis choose that 1% of Jews who would remain alive?
ReplyDelete- Emma Grace Parker
I can’t believe that there is nothing left of the camp. All of it was really destroyed, but I am glad that there are memorials to represent the dead. The things included on how the Nazis made it so people would die faster in the gas chambers was awful! I can’t even understand how someone could think of something so cruel. You definitely made your Grandmother proud. The pinecones represented life and the flag was a perfect thing to leave behind. Like you said it provides the victims with comfort.
ReplyDelete- Lillian Smith
It scares me that somebody can be totally okay and bragging at the thought of killing 15,000 people a 14 hour period. I can't imagine what it was like to be the person who they chose to move the corpses and to dig up the bodies. I can't even begin to imagine how many deaths there were in total. It’s so sick how people could create and follow through with such an atrocious large scale murder. All they would do is transport one group of people to another place, lie to their faces, and end their lives in a mass murder. One theme that I keep coming back to is how the Nazis lied to them saying it would be okay and that they would soon have a better life. That is just so demonic that they killed 99% of who came into Treblinka and saved another 1% to get rid of the bodies they had promised a better life.
ReplyDelete-Evan Pratt
Your story really does sound like your grandmother speaking to you. I’m sure she would be very proud of you. Your stories with butterflies, bees, and pinecones reminded me of my own familial butterfly lore. My mother has always believed that the butterflies she sees carry the soul of her grandfather. All your gifts from her were very poetic. Did you know that the pinecone is a symbol of rebirth and enlightenment, as well as good luck? Your grandmother would have been proud of your yearning to learn about the holocaust and to make sure that nothing like it ever is born again.
ReplyDelete-sophie Thrasher
Makayla Gathers
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I could visit a place like that knowing the history and the lives that were lost. It’s extremely sad to know what happened there, but it’s even more upsetting to realize the details. A lot of people may know what a death camp was, but nobody really understands until it’s put into proportion. I always want to believe that people who do bad things have to realize their actions at one point, but these Nazis weren’t sorry, and they weren’t upset with what they did. I don’t understand how people like Frank Stangl are able to murder and still feel like they are doint what’s right. The picture of the crane emptying ashes speaks volumes. It’s sad because those were innocent people. This camp seems like one of the hardest to get through, but I’m glad you were able to find a tiny bit of peace, and maybe the flag you left will give someone else peace also.
It is shocking Germans really think that the Jews were a threat to them even though the Germans outnumbered the Jews. It is also terrible that the Germans tried to murder all the Jews and then they sold all of their beleongings. Then they gave them false promises making them think they were going to live if they kept on working but they planned to eventually kill everyone. It is also devastating that the Germans left one percent of the Jews alive just so they can be used as slave labor.
ReplyDelete- Sebastian Zarta
The primary snippet of data that stood out to me while perusing this blog entry was By and by the measure of misdirection from the Nazis. I can hardly imagine how they set shakes and trees around the railroad tracks with the goal that the Jews would not have the option to look forward and discover what their destiny was. What's more, prepare to have your mind blown. Regardless of whether the Jews could see ahead then they would simply be informed that they would need to work so as to pick up opportunity, however rather they were mass killed. Something different that stayed with me was the gathering of Jewish understudies that needed to have a watchman travel with them so they could be sheltered. Are individuals that shocking that they would attempt to plan something for a gathering of individuals who were simply attempting to recall and find out about the previous history of their locale? I just can't comprehend the degree of scorn and partiality that such huge numbers of had towards Jews during the Holocaust. The last part that I needed to discuss was the sign from your grandma. I had incidentally perused this blog previously, yet since I know the story behind you and your grandma and how she offered you hints, this sounds good to me. It makes me upbeat that you had the option to respect your grandma by setting your banner on her tombstone.
ReplyDelete-Sunil Mehta