My view is simple. Would you attend a funeral in T-Shirt and shorts?? I would think not. Visitors are not permittedto take photographs inside the buildings because of the things which took place there and yet i saw people who, in my opinion, were visiting this 'Tourist Attraction' as they would Disneyland or Seaworld. The publication I mentioned which slates the food vendors outside asks when will we see a Bar Mitzva!! I have contacted the Controller at Auschwitz and gave her my opinion. I have no intention of being a killjoy however I feel that in this place dignity must be maintained. As I have said WW2 ni, its how people behave, not how they dress. If you feel that a dress code should be enforced thats fine, but you can take out 50% of the visitors for starters. I am all for giving respect but I prefer to judge someone in how they behave not how they dress. Some of the rudest and most arrogant people I have met wore suits, some of the kindest and empathetic people had birkenstocks, shorts and T-Shirts. I'm going to have to "agree to disagree" with you on this, WW2ni.
Ron, after posting the word 'annoy' I thought that was too strong a word, 'bug' is more like it. I can't see a point in flag waving there. As Israel didn't even exist when the holocaust was ongoing it's bringing a modern political symbol to an historic site. I'm not gay but I think I might take a rainbow gay pride flag when I go. Afterall they died there too. UK Gay News - A Bird Sang at Auschwitz As Gays Remembered Holocaust Victims You see, in this article states that it is strange to hear a bird sing at Auschwitz
Sorry Ger, I had to Google 'birkenstocks'. Never heard of them , I see they are posh sandals. I hope they aren't being worn with white socks , now that is a look I do object to. Would it be bad taste to wear them at Auschwitz? They are German after all. Birkenstock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Would anyone object if they saw this flag at Auschwitz being carried around? Or Chadash's Jewish Pride Flag
My view is simple. Would you attend a funeral in T-Shirt and shorts?? I would think not. Yep, have done, because I'm me, and mates who've died would want nothing more. One of the very grimmest funerals I ever attended was a riot of colour, (which possibly gave some alleviation to an otherwise absolutely horrible day). It's got nothing to do with anyone how I pay my respects, and I'll not bow to a form of political correctness that tells me I must conform to traditional mores. I'll never condemn anyone for their dress in relation to some grim event, whether bright and casual, or grey and formal; I'm more impressed by attendance, and the tears on their cheeks. Often at the Leicester Cenotaph do in November, the crowd is a scruffy bunch, but it's a big old crowd, and at least we're there, while many of the suited and booted are off down the pub, or completely unaware that there's an act of remembrance, important to so many, going on.
Sorry Ger, I had to Google 'birkenstocks'. Never heard of them , I see they are posh sandals. I hope they aren't being worn with white socks , now that is a look I do object to. Would it be bad taste to wear them at Auschwitz? They are German after all. Birkenstock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Andrea swears by them and has 3 pairs
My view is simple. Would you attend a funeral in T-Shirt and shorts?? I would think not. My late brother in law went to his own funeral in his jeans and sweatshirt as he had wished. He had said that he had always dressed like that and had led a clean life and God wouldn't recognise him if he showed up wearing a suit.
You are, who you are, regardless of the clothing that you wear. True respect is what really counts. Regards Tom
I have seen several school parties from the UK at WW1 cemeteries on my few trips to Flanders. They are dressed as normal kids - jean/shorts trainers. I have seen these same groups at the Menin Gate totally respecting the occasion. I quite agree that it is how you act, not what you wear. Jim
It is what is in your head that counts. When I was there I watched a party of youngsters from Israel walking round with their national flag over their shoulders , along the way I met a group of people on national service from Israel wearing uniform , clothing seen a mix of everything but all in all I didn't think folks were being disrespectful , the youngsters laughed and joked at times but it never got out of hand and when in particular rears of the camp what they saw did take them and they were respectful and quiet. Tourists do come to see the camp but the nature of the place is such that it does make a mark on you ... that was my impression. What I would say is that the guided tours tend to focus too much on Auschwitz 1 simply because there are things to see and that is where you will find the information boards , the model of Kremas 2 and 3 , the suit cases , human hair and Krema 1 which was only used for a short time. Birkenau is almost ignored by some or seems to be understated and this is where the real killing took place . My sister had this experience paying for a tour which focused almost entirely on Auschwitz main camp and when the guide had her party into Birkenau a point of the fingers up the tracks was all she saw of the main gas chambers and to me that was disrespectful - "all I want is your money" springs to mind or " I can't be arsed walking up there" / "we have run out of time". IMO anyone who was "read" on the subject would have been disappointed - the commercial aspect of "tours" dictating rather than educating. My 2d for what it is worth.
Owen Ron, after posting the word 'annoy' I thought that was too strong a word, 'bug' is more like it. I can't see a point in flag waving there. As Israel didn't even exist when the holocaust was ongoing it's bringing a modern political symbol to an historic site. I'm not gay but I think I might take a rainbow gay pride flag when I go. Afterall they died there too. :wink: Thanks for the explanation. If I in turn am completely honest, it was the word "annoy" that annoyed me ! Expanding the thread topic to now include the use of flags I again have no problem with the Gay Pride flags. At the risk of being a little crass, I confess to suscribing to the Victorian attitude of "it doesn't matter what you do, providing you don't scare the horses" and yes, you are completely correct, "they died too". In the matter of "suitable" attire I go along with what others have said. Some people will have chosen to visit the camp from a nearby holiday resort and so it is understandable if their clothes may on the face of it seem "unsuitable" Finally, and purely out of interest, I personally have never visited any of the former camps in deference to my better half who feels that she could not cope with the experience. Despite this, we have both made visits to Jewish Quarters and Museums in Florence, Trieste, Rome, Venice, Prague & Budapest apart from visits to Yad Vashem in Israel and we both consider ourselves fairly well read on the subject. Thanks to all for your considered and well balanced views. Ron
I do not wish to argue your point and I understand that you feel that people show respect, (I remember that many women in my church when I was young would speak poorly about a woman wearing pants) however this person that was wearing shorts and tee shirt was showing respect by being there. He will able to tell All of what he witnessed and the story of such a horrible time will live on. That fact that someone made the trip is the bigger story and not what he wore. Couldn't this man still pay his respects and wear shorts and tee-shirt.
If I may say a little on the subject of peoples dress at Auschwitz. My grandmother died there and I've been three times, last years visit was in temperatures of over 40c no way could you wear jacket and tie. Most travellers these day come on budget airlines and so luggage weight limits severely restrict the amount of formal clothing you can take. The important thing is how people behave and the lessons they learn from the visit.
My entire 'wardrobe' consists of T-shirts, shorts, flowery Hawaiian shirts and 'combat trousers'. I own not a single Tie, suit etc. I have absolutely no wish to. Am I not allowed to visit Auschwitz then? Having visited both camps, I personally think a nice, flowered Hawaiian-style shirt would make a very good addition. Marc
I don't know if you read this, I posted under something else. We had a German POW speak at our World War Two Round table Meeting. He came back after the war with his family and became a US citizen. He said before any German POWs were taken back to Europe everyone of them had to sit and watch the films of the Death Camps. If you were a German POW you were going to see and know what your nation had done and there would be no denying it. He mentioned before he was transferred to North Africa he was a Guard Officer at a Russian POW camp. Almost immediately he realized the Russians were not getting enough food to live. When he told his superior the man told him to "KEEP QUIET OR YOU WILL BE TRANSFERED TO THE EASTERN FRONT!!" In a few weeks he was transfered to North Africa.
