Reflections: Truth

6 of 26

by John Schmidt

Created on: February 14, 2009

Auschwitz

When I was seventeen, back in the early sixties, I found that I was bored with life and decided to see whatever the outside world had to offer me. I quit high school and joined the Army. I ended up spending two and a half years in West Germany, in a town called Bad Kreuznach, not too far from the French border.

At the time I didn't like the military lifestyle very much, and when my three years were up, I couldn't wait to get out. However, some years later I developed a real interest in Germany, It's history and WWII. A near fatal car wreck on May 1st of 1965 almost ended my short life while on a three day pass near Wurzburg. I was never very well informed about the circumstances surrounding that accident afterwards and was always curious and still am today. A close friend and fellow soldier was killed and I was never able to get much information connected to the incident, That prompted me to me to get out a World Atlas one day and review the area of West Germany where I was, and where the accident happened.My interest became a top priority and I made plans to return there to see if I might find an answer or two. It had been about twenty five years at this point since I was stationed there.

I flew to Germany and returned to my old haunts and visited the area where the accident happened, talking to a number of the older residents of the village.I even paid a visit to the Hospital in Wuzburg where I spent a monthh and a half recuperating at the time and acquired a local newspaper article related to it from that period.I found very little information that I didn't already know.

I did, however develop a true interest in Germany and it's infamous place in history surrounding WWII. Adolf Hitler and the unspeakable horror that took place under his reign of terror.I visited numerous towns, cities and villages where he either lived, hung out or conducted business related to his dreaded war machinery. The Holocaust and the concentration camps were my number one interests and still are.

I once traveled to Dachau, on the outskirts of Munich, and toured the famous site.It was a very somber and sobering experience which provoked a lot of serious thought on my part. I was especially intriqued by the deafening silence which prevailed throughout the entire camp, both wthin the buildings and, outdoors as well. There were many visitors there at the time, but they looked, studied photos, building interriors and exibits in total silence amongst each other. That struck me, and I inspired me to write a short poem about it called "Dachau".I did that and it appears in the poetry category of Helium.Com.

I have always wanted to, and will some day see Auschwitz as well, in Poland. In the meantime, I have however seen about every documentary or movie related to it a number of times. Until the day comes when I see Auschwitz in person, I have some thoughts concerning it as well as Dachau. Those thoughts follow this story.

Auschwitz

I dreamed that I traveled to a far off land

And stood before a place I did not understand

While looking about, I began to see

An awakening vision overwhelming me

Shadows of death, they lingered here

Envoking premonitions of pain and fear

Stench filled smoke, that darkens the day

Heavy with ashes slowly drifting away

See them now,as they fall from the sky

Mortal reminders of those who would die

Men and women, children as well