Today is Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) is a national commemoration day in the United Kingdom dedicated to the remembrance of those who suffered in The Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
On this day 70 years ago the Russian Troops arrived at and liberated Auschwitz. I have written two poems to try and express how terrible Auschwitz and the other death camps were.
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The Arrival
The train stopped!
Days had passed, lost count
Pleople had died like flies they’d dropped.
The smell the fear, bad enough, began to to mount.
Get out, Get out get out, quick , quick
They screamed at them , move, move are you thick?
The dead and weak at the front they scrapped to the floor
The rest of them fell or stumbled out of the door.
Line up , women and children here
Men and teenage boys over there .
They did not know the significance
Right, left , life death the difference.
The old, the babies , those who were weak
Went one way, lost forever tired, quiet and meek.
The S.S. doctors selected the fit and the strong
To work them to death …… It would not take long.
This way , hurry we have nice showers for you
You won’t need your clothes we will give you all something new.
Into the showers yes mixed no room for shyness or shame
Who bloody cares you will never be seeing anyone again.
Thousands when into the” Shower Blocks” unsure and scared
No one came out alive, hydrogen cyanide made sure they died .
Sonderkommandos where waiting to clear the dead bodies
Into the furnaces , the doors open wide.
Those who went the other way
Were stripped and shaved, to survive another day
They were registered and given numbered tattoos
Forced through a shower given striped pyjams and wooden shoes.
No one lasted long they were worked to death
The food was to little and people would fight
To survive , but hunger and exhaustion took their last breath
Or a bullllet, a surgeons knife , a beating or sicknes in the night.
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Voices
Tell me now and tell me true
What have I ever done to you
I have never even raised my voice
Tell me now is it a crime to be a Jew.
Why did you you take my baby
Left me to live this evil life
Snatched from my breast , leaving me crazy.
All my family gone, escaped, at least this strife.
I no longer see men , women or children
I just see bodies, I push them through
I scrape them out again to burn
They will kill me too, I am a Sonderkommando what can I do.
Turn away do not look
Here comes the Kapo
Don’t get in his bad book.
He is the one in the know.
Yes sir no sir , lick your boots
I shall do anything to stay alive
I’ve no family left or any roots.
If you like me I might just thrive……….
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I cannot write enough in this blog it would be never ending . I do urge you to read The Holocaust Explained . I would also recommend a film The Devils Arithmatic it is a very good film and even children could watch and learn much from it.
I have done my best with this post, I cannot do the subject justice but I have done my best.
I cannot apologize for the words or photographic material, all I can say is, it is all true.
PLEASE MAY WE NEVER FORGET.
willowdot21 
Raw emotion. You have outdone yourself, Willow.
Very hard to write Tess!
I know, Willow. I know. ❤
❤
Such a heartwrenching yet so important post. Thank you for this
It was so hard to write . The research was heartwrenching.
Yes I know, it is always hard to read about it, hear the testimonies, but I always say if this is how bad it makes me feel, it is miraculous that the people who actually lived through it and survived are able to function and have productive lives. Hard as it is, it is always so important to remember. Thank you again
Yes we must never foget
You have conveyed the horror with your words, Willow. I have read many books – both fiction and non-fiction – of this time, and it is something that should never be forgotten. The people who lived through this are probably forever carrying some type of guilt because they survived and so many others didn’t. Thank you for not shying away form posting the images. We must never forget the horror.
No Christina I agree the horror and truth are worse than we can ever know. We must never forget. Thanks for reading and commenting. xx
Such horror is unimaginable but should never, ever be forgotten.
No truly it must never been forgotten xxx
The girl in the red coat was such a powerful image and your words do justice to the raw power of the emotions
Thank you Paula this post was so hard to research and write. Thank you for your words. I was not sure if I could do the subject justice. Terrible times of man’s inhumanity
Thanks for this. I could not write it myself.
It was very hard!
Schöner Beitrag lieber Gruß und einen schönen Tag Gislinde
vielen dank xxxxx
you do capture the moment very well, Willow
Thank you Geoff it was hard to research and write, just so awful. Thanks for reading. xx
It is almost impossible to put any of these events into words and you have achieved it beautifully, as ever lovingly counterpointed by your cunningly sourced pictures. Big tick and gold star from your ‘Sarf Londin’ fan!
Thank you Sir I am chuffed. xx
A fine memorial Willow. Thank You.