Our Project

Gaining inspiration from our trip and experiences, we decided to set up a campaign against the prejudice that still exists in the world today. It particularly bothered me that, despite the extent of the suffering and discrimination that took place during the Holocaust, which most people today are aware of, the thing which started the whole process in the first place- everyday prejudices escalating- is still going on, and genocides are still taking place across the world.

A quote which we were made to think about and discuss in the introduction and follow up seminar was:

'The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.' - Hegel, a 19th Century German philosopher.

Thinking about this now, this is a very interesting viewpoint, as we are taught about the Holocaust in the school as part of the curriculum, but I still hear people being called either 'Jew', 'gay' and 'gypsy' as an insult around school, and people still make jokes about the concentration camps. 

Perhaps it's because most people don't connect with the topic in the way that we did, because after all they haven't had our experience of visiting Auschwitz, and I'm sure that most of them don't feel that they personally have any problems with the minority that they are using as a term of abuse, but the principle is there, and that principle is one of prejudice rather than equality.

Our project is based on the idea that everyone can do something to help combat everyday prejudice like that, and the M.A.D. in 'Get M.A.D.' or 'Are You M.A.D.' stands for 'Making a Difference'.

We would really appreciate any help we can get in promoting this project and any contributions :)

In one day, inmates would often no more than half a litre of so called ‘coffee’, coupled with soup often cooked with rotten vegetables, and later 300 grams of bread, 30 grams of marge and a drink brewed of herbs. The caloric value for the entire day was 1300-1700 or often less.

We also visited the supposed ‘prisoner’s toilets’, if that is what you can call them. They were situated inside another wooden barrack and consisted of three long stone troughs running down the left, right and centre of the barrack with a few hundred circles carved out of the top of them. For a long time the camp had no sewerage or water systems. There was a special regulation in the camp that limited each inmate to ten seconds when using the toilets. Sarah and I were told stories of up to three people sharing one hole at once, and fairly often, people would get pushed of the toilet when using it.

Sarah and I did not visit Block 25, however, Kitty Hart Moxen informed us of the atrocities that took place there. This barrack was isolated and used for women who were ill as they awaited their turn to go to the gas chambers. However, whilst in the barrack, the SS guards didn’t feed the women and they were often in there for several days under extremely poor sanitary conditions, many died there. 

At the end of the railway are the remains of 2 crematoria and gas chambers. In the ruins it is still possible to discern the underground changing room, where the victims were made to undress before being killed. Our guide spoke of children’s toys that were still being found at the sight to this day. This was extremely moving and upsetting as it made Sarah and I consider all the friends and family that people would have lost.

Between the ruins of the crematoriums stands a monument built to help us remember the victims of Auschwitz. Sarah and I, along with the rest of the group, stood by the monument and reflected upon the Holocaust following a ceremonial ritual carried out by a Rabbi. Finally, we walked back along the railway leaving candles on the side. In total, 1.5 million people died at Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp. It was hard to grasp the reality of this number at first, however, seeing the evidence and remains of such a terrible event in history helped slightly. I still don’t feel I can ever fully grasp and come to terms with the number of lives lost at the camp; however, when the Rabbi informed us that if one were to give just one minute to each individual that died at the camp, they would be stood there for over three years, I nearly began to grasp the scale.

I’d say that if there was one positive thing that I have gained from this experience, it is that I now feel a greater need to make a difference about the prejudices and discrimination that still exist within the world. I can’t imagine anything worse than more people suffering, and more lives being wasted on the racism and discrimination that continues to pervade the world.

- Aggie

Auschwitz Birkenau

Auschwitz one was originally meant to hold polish prisoners, however, as time passed the Gestapo begun to deport soviet prisoners of war, political prisoners, members of the resistance and eventually gypsies and Jews to the camp. Due to an increased number in inmates, the Nazis needed more territory to place them all. As a result, an enormous death camp was built three kilometres away from Auschwitz one called Auschwitz Birkenau. The inmates were condemned to death and used as cheap labour by the SS. This camp became the symbol of terror and genocide and contained four crematoria, gas chambers, pyres and pits.

On arrival to Auschwitz Birkenau, Sarah and I went into the watch tower which effectively gave a clear view of the entire camp. It is situated directly above the railway and the entrance to the death camp. Prior to the visit I had been informed that it was the largest of all the camps of mass extermination; it was approximately 425 acres and had contained over 300 buildings within it. This fact encapsulates the size of it; in august 1944 the total number of prisoners reached approximately 100,000. This was possibly one of the most disturbing sights to see considering how many people suffered there. Furthermore, the camp was situated near forests which are normally associated with a thriving wildlife.  However, the tranquillity of the place was startling. I saw no bird, no animal, and the grass was scarce. Yet, somehow, out of the quietness I felt a loud sense of unease and grief. One thing the group commented on was the stark contrast between the concept of the camp, and the beautiful weather. Despite the sunshine, the place still reeked of death and sorrow.

Under the watch tower was the railway. It ran all the way to the other side of the camp and would have carried deportees from all over the world. Either side of the railway were two unloading ramps whereby the infamous ‘selection’ process would take place. This was the place where families and friends, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons would be separated and sent their destiny. Victims would often be quite brutally forces out of the tiny train wagons after days of travelling whereby SS guards with guns would separate men and women into two lines. The trucks were of an unimaginably small size and up to 100 people could be forced into one. Many people died en route to Auschwitz due to suffocation or starvation within these compartments. When the holocaust survivor ‘Kitty Hart Moxen’ gave us her account of her experience she told us that to be sent towards the gas chambers meant you would be sent to your death, and if one was sent the other way, they would remain alive merely to endure exhausting labour every day. On average, almost 80% of those arriving from each transportation were immediately sent to the gas chambers.            

Subsequently, Sarah and I visited the prisoner’s barracks. Very few were brick and the rest were wooden. Many of the wooden buildings had once served as field stables for 52 horses and were soon housing up to 1,000 prisoners. It was hard to imagine that so many people could fit into one of these barracks, never mind sleep in one. Most of the victims would sleep in three tier berths whereby on one level, an average of 8 people would lie. Furthermore, it was not uncommon that rats and other animals and insects bringing epidemics. The inmates were subjected to a lack of water; terrible sanitary conditions, inadequate clothing and barely any food. Chimney flues were built inside and the smoke passing through was supposed to heat the room; however, we were informed that these were infrequently used.

- Aggie