As it is May 4 today I have one more post from the Westerbork Memorial Centre and former camp grounds (see also my previous posts
here and
here). This is The National Westerbork Memorial, a permanent reminder of its sad history and one of the blackest pages in the history of our country. It is situated at the spot where, during WWII, the railroad from the town of Hooghalen to the camp terminated. After having cut through the entire camp, the train came to a standstill here. (read more on their
website)
The memorial signifies the dismay that results from realising what has happened to the Jewish people. The curled up rails express this despair. The memorial was designed in 1970 by Ralph Prins, himself a former prisoner in this camp.
May 4 is '
dodenherdenking' or '
Remembrance of the Dead' in the Netherlands. Every year, people dedicate 2 minutes of silence at 8pm to pay their respects to soldiers and civilians who died during World War II, as well as other military conflicts and peace-keeping missions.
Quite appropriate memorial.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMooie post.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThat is a very powerful memorial. I was a bit too young to serve in WWII, but I've spent a lifetime studying it and teaching about it. The Holocaust, which I thought to be something of an aberration in the 20th century, turns out to have some attraction to more and more people in the 21st and that scares the hell out of me!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenEcht een passend monument.
BeantwoordenVerwijderen...what a powerful statement!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSAD
BeantwoordenVerwijderenA powerful symbol of a dark period in history.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGreat way to remember those who experienced the horrible destiny.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThe memorial is impressive.
Very appropriate for the day. Quite stark.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMooie foto's van die afschuwelijke plek. Laten we maar volhouden met herdenken of gedenken.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenhier kan men stil bij worden Marleen
BeantwoordenVerwijdereneen mooi en sereen logje
groeten
What a profound post, Marleen and a powerful visual of this memorial.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenA sobering reminder Marleen.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenA powerful statement Marleen!
BeantwoordenVerwijderen