As soon as I seen the list of topics to choose from my biggest interest was the Concentration and death camps. I saw the movie "Boy In the striped pajamas," and that's all I've ever known about what happened at the camps. After doing some research and reading I'm much more aware of that. I've always thought that the Jews and other people in the camps were pretty much like slaves, then when there were too many they would be put to death in the gas chamber. I've learned that these people in the camps went through a lot more than I had imagined. I read a lot on the Auschwitz, Nazi death camp where the largest number of Jews were killed. The site I read http://www.auschwitz.dk/auschwitz.htm says that at this particular camp over three million people were killed by gassing, starvation, disease, shooting and burning. That right there definitely opens my eyes more and makes me want to know exactly how it got to that point. I've never too much understood the Holocaust or what that meant. I also learned that Auschwitz children were killed upon arrival and new born babies were killed on spot. Near the end of the war, in order to save gas and cut expenses they began throwing living children into ovens and open burning pits. This information definitely changed my understanding of what was really going on during the Holocaust. Personally it breaks my heart to know that these people suffered so vigorously, and I've always thought it was pretty much like slavery. I really appreciate having to write this blog because it's increased my interest in the Holocaust and what it was all about. I'm excited to read The Book Thief and increase my understanding of the Holocaust.
