Has anyone ever visited the eerie looking Holocaust Memorial in Berlin?

Question

What did you make of the stone blocks? I found them intimidating and claustophobic in places. Do you also think the 'blocks' are a fitting tribute to the millions dead?

Answer 1

I visited the memorial stones last year and immediately felt the same as you. They are very intimidating and extremely thought provoking too.
As you know, walking amongst the granite blocks, you get a sense of foreboding loss, whether you're lost in a location sense or lost in the memory of the millions of helpless victims, that succumbed to Nazi tyranny.
There is of course hugh debate about the memorials significance in being a 'fitting' tribute for Holocaust victims. Personally I think it's radical, stark and more appropriate than a traditional single monument. Apparently there's over 700 individual blocks, and as you well know, not that easy to navigate in regards to time as each tear is a good half a mile long.
I would love to know what the Jewish community thought about this memorial too, I wonder if they think it's appropriate or not.

Answer 2

I haven't gone yet myself, but one day will. My brother did go to Auschwitz and Birkenau. He said it was the most heartbreaking thing he had ever seen that brought tears to his eyes. He said it was so hard looking at the displays showing all the baby shoes, the luggage, socks, etc. Each one of those items represents a human life that was taken by a person who had no respect for human life.

Not that I will ever say I neither understand war nor like it. But this was just pure evil and hate. These Hateful people created a slaughterhouse for these innocent lives. It is truly unforgivable in my book. Honestly I have a German heritage and it is something I have thought of randomly over the years. Were any of my ancestors involved in this cruelty? I haven't ever checked into this to even know. All I can say am I hoping that my family didn't have what it supposedly takes to do this running through there blood.

I wish they would even teach kids more of this tragic unspeakable event in history to learn from this. Know how precious life is and to understand how many horrible people, but yet good people are in this world.

I'm sure no one who this means anything to is reading this, but to the survivors and there families I’m so very sorry that this was endured by you. Just know that there are many in the world that does not even come close to these despicable monsters that did this to you and your family.

Answer 3

When I lived in Germany, I went to a few memorial places, including an ex concentration camp (Bergen Belsen). It brings home the reality of the sh!t that happened during the war when you visit these places for yourself, and I think if a lot of our young kids had the chance to go visit these places. It would bring it home the reality of the Holocaust too.
Very fascinating, if not makes you take a step back to think about things and how good we have it.

One other place which I would have loved to visited is Auschwitz in Poland ( would have taken the opportunity to go see visit place had I realised how close a friend of ours lived from it when we went to visit them one year)

Answer 4

NO, I have not, but what a feeling that must be. I have such a resentment for what happened there, it was so sad and bad. So many people died for no reason whatsoever.

It is not surprising that you felt something whe you went there. But i bet it helped you understand the cruelty of what human beings are doing to themselves today?

I just wish the fighting would stop - once and for all.

Answer 5

Yes... I have visited "Bergen Belsen,"with my family,it is an ausum place,but with such peace......I believe every senior politician and world leader should visit as many memorials like this ,before they gain their power, to ensure they understand the futility of war.....Incidentally, I hold no animosity towards the German public, only to the powers to be at the time.
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