From: Maia Mikhaluk (810th day)
Auschwitz is a very heavy place. You might wonder why a Ukrainian would want to visit it while carrying all the heaviness of what invaders are doing in our own country now. Maybe it’s because pain resonates more than fun experiences, though I have nothing against joyful experiences and doing our best to keep on living our lives to the fullest. But we do understand Auschwitz much deeper now than two years ago.
Auschwitz speaks of human depravity at its highest levels. 1,5 million people were murdered with as much efficiency as cruelty. Gas chambers were crammed with 8 people per square meter. Within 20 minutes, over 200 people died in agony of being poisoned by gas. Germans were frustrated that they couldn’t cremate bodies as fast as they could kill. Crematoriums were outfitted by a family that, before the war had owned a small brewery. The guide told us that 8000 Germans were working as guards during the years of concentration/extermination camp functioning and not one of them refused to follow orders. Many of those guards were highly educated officers. 99% of war criminals avoided any persecution, moving to other countries. Human justice is often powerless.
Auschwitz is a part of human history that hurts, but we shouldn’t avoid this pain. As a quote on one of the barrack’s walls said: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Unfortunately, remembering is also not a guarantee.
Voice of Ukraine 