Visiting Germany during Hanukah
Prisoners were kept in the basement; they weren't all Jewish. Some were Communists or members of the resistance. Above, you see the hallway to the torture chamber and a cell. Sometimes up to 30 people were crammed into a cell. To the left, you see a sample of the graffiti on the wall, in this case, a calendar.
The exhibit is personalized with videos and tape recordings of people who were incarcerated as well as with pictures and signs documenting their stories. The events truly - and horribly - come to life.
To educate children so this never happens again, the museum has a pedagogical center and an entire room dedicated to Hitler Youth and the way young people followed along.
These images are chilling as well, partly because they contain so many, many children.
The temporary exhibition focuses on how the Nazis used Martin Luther's anti-Semitic writings from the end of his career to justify their own actions. I was not aware of this fact, and indeed, I was shocked at the violence of Luther's thoughts. I wonder how many US Protestants are aware of this foundation to their churches.
That's all can say on the subject. The visit left me feeling dirty and violated - but most of all afraid that we will see such intolerance and cruelty again.
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