Auschwitz, Is this true???

I think the lack of birds at Belsen, Auschwitz and possibly many other such places is down to the closely grown 'Evergreen trees'. Take a walk in a similar wooded area in Uk and you will notice how quiet it is in comparison to a wood which are mainly Oak, Beech, Birch, Elm etc.

I have served in Germany for many years, and know Europe quite well. The main type of trees planted are what we would call Fir Trees, which are not ideal grounds for birds to live and fly around in..

 

Somewhat related are the constant crows at the Jewish Synagogue and cemetery in Prague. I have visited the city three times over w15 years and always visit the Synagogue several times when there. It has always been full of crows and always cawing. It is an disquieting yet spell binding place, eerie.. The cemetery is beyond beautiful. It is not that far to Terezinstadt Concentration Camp on the German border, the so-called "Model Camp" to show the red Cross. It is well worth a visit and well documented and very complete..

As this is a WW2 forum about 25 K outside of Prague, on local a bus route is the Kbely Aircraft Museum. It is not highly commercial, often near empty of people but chock full of ww1 and 2 planes as well as those of the Cold War. A must see for aircraft buffs.

Gaines

 

Gaines

I can't recall hearing the crows at the old cemetery in Prague but I do vividly remember the names on the wall of the synagogue itself.

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/39676-the-6-million/?p=479641

Ron

 

I went to Auchwitz in 2004, and i looked purposively to see whether that was true about the animals etc. It was deathly silent, I did see two birds they flew over the entrance before the main gates to the camp and then changed direction and flew away. I didn't see any birds after that but possibly because then I was too overwhelmed by what I was seeing.

 

To be honest I go into a different frame of mind when I visit one of the camps. I feel deeply moved and totally respectful so I probably do not hear birds but of course they are there.

Ron, I am also very moved at the old and new synagogue group at Prague distinctly remember the crows, many many times. It is as if they are .watching over it, poignant to me. The names on the wall always cause my throat to tighten and tears are all to close. But the thing that touched me the deepest was a display at Terezinstadt of 40 or so framed collages neatly hung on the wall. They contained innocent school like portraits of young girls and boys, most shy of ever being teens, their names, the day they were born and the date and where they died. Each had something they had created, most a drawing, sketch, or painting and most had some writing they had done, prose or poetry. The material was found there in suitcases belonging to a young woman who had studied art at the Bauhaus just prior to the war. She had taught the children art to keep them occupied and to express themselves. The suitcases survived the war, the young teacher did not. You, Tom, and Sapper have seen years of horrible things, I only one , but I cannot look at that exhibit without taking a break and going outside and cry.

It has since been moved to Prague and to the Synagogue for more to see but I think it belongs where the children were. I do not recall hearing birds there but my mind was fully occupied.

Gaines

 

good day spidge,very senior member.19,aug,2007,12:59pm.re:auschwits,is it true.i have been reading this old thread,i finaly settled for your post #29,i am in full agreement with you.have a good day.may the birds sing in your garden,regards bernard85.

 

Discussed here
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=84847

Yes they do sing

 

Settled!

 

I saw birds at Auschwitz when I visited, I had heard the stories about no wildlife, but mainly attributed to Belsen, i think that when people think of a Nazi Concentration Camp, they automaticaly think Auschwitz and the story has been linked to Auschwitz for that reason.

 

good day spidge.very senior member,19th aug,2007.12:59pm.#29.re:heinz barth.convicted 1983.i agree with you.it should have been the end of a rope.i have posted before #167 regards bernard85.

 

yy.



This is true. Same as all camps. I was at Belsen. In 1973 Passout

 

The answer is NO there were no Birds and Animals at Belsen or any other place where mass graves were found . WHY? because the bodies and the area in general was coated with Hydrated lime or slake lime, This is pure white and known for its antibacterial properties. Hydrated lime was used in white wash too but its very caustic to the touch and if anyone breathes it in.it will burn,the masks the soldiers wore were not only for the stench .(Not to be confused with Agricultural Lime which is Grey and relatively safe) Over the years the Hydrated Lime has gone and the birds have returned and the animals no longer avoid the area.

If you visited up until the early 1970s there were no birds.
If you visited after 1975( ish) then the birds (and Animals had returned).

From the old BBC Witness ON THIS DAY WEBSITE

Kyle

 

I will be in Bergen-Belsen in a few days and will take note and report back.

 

Many birds were signing and I failed to get a photo of one on the ground before it flew away. Other than some monuments and the paved pathway, the camp remains untouched. Although I have seen many newsreels of the immediate period after the liberation, I just could not take in that I was on the site. Standing in front of the huge mounds where thousands of bodies had been put in pits was also difficult to get your head round.

 

Just back from a visit to the three main Auschwitz camps and there was indeed plenty of birds around inside Birkenau including pigeons. In the 'Kanada' complex of Birkenau a few of the hut foundations had deer prints in the mud and this little fellow was hopping around.

 

Courtyard used for morning call.


Hidden drawings.

I know this is an older thread, but my sister went to Terezin and she sent me some photos. This is a sample of what she sent.