Turning History Into A Reality

In-between the Blocks at Auschwitz I

The reality of the Holocaust to me is completely indescribable. I had always found this topic captivating because no matter how much I studied, I couldn’t comprehend how this inhumane genocide occurred. When first learning about the Holocaust from a middle school and high school standpoint, you learn almost a “PG” version of what actually occurred. A series of facts and information that is almost sugar coated to a point where you understand just a basic summarization of what happened. It wasn’t until this class and learning about the Holocaust on a collegiate level, as well as actually venturing to a concentration camp, that the shocking truth is unveiled. 

At the start of this class we were assigned to read “The Holocaust Kingdom”, a memoir by Alexander Donat that discussed his experiences before, during, and after the Holocaust. Learning about the Holocaust from a survivor’s standpoint opens up a whole new level of comprehension. You are no longer learning just statistics and facts, but instead learning about someone’s real life experiences. Page after page you’re being exposed to the harsh treatments this person faced every single day, the annihilation of their basic human rights, and the impossible feeling to stay alive for just one more day. By reading this memoir it puts a face to those statistics, turning this piece of history into a reality.

For me, the reality hit even harder once we actually stepped foot on the grounds of Auschwitz. Walking where these people had suffered so immensely can’t help but send chills down your spine. By touring a concentration camp it puts the stories from survivors into perspective. You are no longer imaging the scenario you were once reading about, you are now standing exactly where this tragic moment occurred. You are seeing just how small and cramped these living quarters truly are. You are walking through the gas chamber where you know exactly how many people took their last breath. You are turning facts and stories into a real life experience. You are no longer just an intrigued reader into this subject; you are now a witness to the genocide.

No one can ever be prepared for what they might discover when studying the Holocaust. Studying the facts will introduce you to the subject, but nothing compares to being in the actual spot where these facts arose. Immersing myself further into this subject has generated a whole new level of respect for these survivors and an even greater sorrow for those who lost their lives in this unforgettable tragedy.