Flossenburg Concentration Camp

Today we ventured off to the town of Flossenburg to see the Flossenburg Concentration Camp ... not something you can get too excited about, but it is on our "European Bucket List", so we made it happen. We chose Flossenburg over the more popular Dachau because it was closer, and I have read that it is less touristy - and I like to avoid pushy tourists at all costs.

The camp is in the middle of a small town ... nestled right between a neighborhood and shops. If you weren't looking for it - you wouldn't even know it was there.

The reviews were definitely right about the minimal tourists - we basically had the place to ourselves ...

Vic checking out the detention barracks ... where the resistance prisoners were held, and executed. This is where the men behind the failed plot to kill Hitler were executed. If you haven't seen the movie Valkyrie - I strongly suggest you watch it ...

Record book of the prisoners ...

Different symbols that prisoners were forced to wear ...

Vic standing in the 'barber room' ...

You could pick up these microphones throughout the museum, and hear first-hand experiences from former prisoners ...

Showers ...

Complete list of prisoners' names ...

Reading about different prisoners ...

Uniform ...

Skylight inside a synagogue/memorial ...

... 'In Honor of the 90th Infantry Division Which Liberated Flossenburg Concentration Camp' ...

Guard Tower ...

Graves within the 'Valley of Death' ... each one represented a different country, and how many people were lost ...

'Pyramid of Ashes' ... the sign says, 'These are the ashes and bones from mass-burnings' ...

Looking up from the Valley of Death ... that church was built from old guard towers after the camp was liberated ...

Crematorium ...

Elliott was not exactly angelic during this trip ... thank goodness the place wasn't too crowded.

We tried for a family picture ... the scenery was beautiful ...

Rough translation ... 'to the men and women who have given their lives for human dignity, freedom and justice' ...

Gravesites ...

Looking down on the Valley of Death ...

Walking through the Valley of Death ...

I think it says, 'Respect the Ashes' ...

I'm definitely glad we visited ... it was a little gloomy and morbid, but I think it is something we'll always remember. Plus, when Eli studies WWII in school, he can say he has visited a concentration camp - how many kids can say that?