Concentration Camp memorials
 

Me and my family are visiting europe this summer. we might skim the east of Germany (bonn). <BR>We have an interest in history, and we're wondering if their are any historical world war 2 sites that we could visit... <BR> thanks!

Bonn is a Rhine River city in the far WESTERN side of Germany. Not far from it are the remains of the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, the only Rhine Bridge left intact after the German retreat in March, 1945. It collapsed within 72 hours of its capture. Only the stone towers remain. Near Bonn is the town of Bad Godesberg, the last meeting place of Hitler and Chamberlain before the Munich Conference of September, 1938. I am unaware of any concentration camps whose remains are in the Bonn area. These first were encountered across the Rhine to the east; i.e. the larger ones being Bergen-Belsen (near Celle), Dachau (near Munich), and Buchenwald. The giant camps were in present-day Poland and Belarus. The surrender of German forces in the west took place in a school house in Reims, France, in May, 1945. If you tell us exactly where you are going, perhaps we can be of greater help.

Kathleen, here is a photo we took of the memorial at Dachau. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewP...123&p=18453106 <BR>Peg.

Fodors <BR> <BR>I haven't used the site myself, but I see that there are notes on places that mark the Nazi period on http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti56.html <BR> <BR>Welcome to Europe <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

I forgot to suggest that if you are in Paris that you should see the memorial to the deportees. It is located behind the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

I echo Al's suggestion about the Memorial de la Deportation. It's incredibly moving, perhaps because of the contrast between what it represents and its setting in one of the most beautiful parts of Paris (hence, the world).

I must ask Al and Janine about the memorial to the deportees in Paris. When we were there it was locked and we couldn't figure out how to gain access. Were we doing something wrong? It was a weekday, not Shabbat. I'd really like to know what the situation is. Thanks.

Other camp sites that are supposed to have memorials include Natzweiler-Strutthoff south of Strasbourg, France and Neuengamme near Hamburg.

Ann, I've run into the same situation on several visits to Paris - and I can't find an explanation to the phenomenon. The gates are locked, there's no one around, there's no sign on the gate - it's just locked. It's not a holiday, it's not sundown Friday, there are no construction crews - it's just closed. If somebody can solve this mystery, I will be eternally grateful. <BR> <BR>For memorials to the camps, visit Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. There are sculptures for each camp in memoriam to the victims; at the crematorium, there are plaques in memoriam to the deportees who never returned (note the number of doctors that were taken; I always wonder which one would have found the cure for cancer). <BR>