8 Aug: Dachau Concentration Camp 1933-1945

Today we paid our respects to those who lived and died at Dachau concentration Camp between 19933-1945, Apr 29. The iron gates read to all those that passed, "Work will set you free" of course, those who could not bear the misery of the camp were really only "set free" by going to the barbed wire fence where the German SS guards cut them down. At the crematorium, there was also a "gas chamber" which was installed in 1943 and for reasons unexplained was never used. It was however used to execute individuals and small groups. Over 230,00 passed through Dachau, records state that over 31,000 died there but it is believed many more died that what was recorded. Punishments were dealt out for the slightest errors or infractions of the rules. One man was caught taking left over food and hung by his arms for hours. Flogging was another punishment along with torture in a "prison within a prison". Everthing was very organized and clean, all part of the trickery that the SS German officers intended to decieve people of what was truly happening at Dachau.