I agree we shouldn't let bad stuff be forgotten else we're condemned to repeat it, but a Jewish star? The Nazis killed something like 11 million and 5.2 million Jews so less than half, I don't like Nazi genocide memorials that leave out more than half of the victims. It's worth mentioning that gypsies get a raw deal still in Europe, especially in certain countries like France and they lost a lot in World War Two. It shows how history is written really.
@chewyteeth There were lots of words and lists of who the victims were (people groups), but the bulk in numbers were the Jews, yes? Hmmm, I always thought the number was 6 million. Was the 11 million including on the battlefield? Anyway, I didn't realize that, Dave. It would be hard to use one symbol to represent all of the victims and the star makes you see it and know what it is for.
Nicely done Amanda. Plenty of unspeakably awful things have happened - and continue to happen - since. Thinking in terms of 'good' and 'evil' doesn't usually help - so often those words mean 'us' and 'them'. OK so I'm a contrary pessimist!
@chewyteeth Did some research and the numbers were far higher than I realized. Saw 11 million even 17 million possible. But it does seem the 6 million Jews was the largest people group represented. What a sick thing. What a horrible event. A few years back we attended a talk by a man who had been a younger boy at a death camp. He was a Jew but was forced to work there because he was young and healthy. He told of how the workers had an uprising and stormed the camp. Many escaped. They did this near the end of the war when they knew the camp would be closing and it was only a matter of time before they, too, would be gassed.
The design of this piece is ingenious. Apart, the symbol would not be there, but together, a memorial is created. I wonder if the lines on the surface possible represent the long and latitudinal lines of the planet. Beautifully photographed and presented, Amanda.
@chewyteeth Dave, the shape of the star of David in this memorial is because I'm sure it was done by the Jewish community. There is no doubt that great numbers of gypsies and homosexuals were also victims of Hitler, trying to have a "pure" race.
Really beautifully designed sculpture and a horrific time in history. I think it is good to remember such times and learn from them. Lovely photo, Amanda!
It is a great tribute, and beautiful memorial! No matter what shape or form it is in. We all need to remember this horrible time in history. Great composition, and lighting. It really is striking on black.
Much more vibrant on black!! I am assuming the Star is for The Star of David? Love the architecture and the memorial!! Great capture of this stunning and moving tribute! FAV!
yeah best figures I know is 5.2 million jews (which is usually rounded up to 6), 11 million altogether, if you include battlefield and Russian civilian deaths the figures more like 60 million. Sounds like that guy was in Sobibor, they made a very brutal film about that in the 80s with Rutger Hauer in it, worth checking out if you can handle gore. There's a Belorussian film called Come and See which makes Sobibor look like a kids cartoon, very real. I don't think these monuments do very much, if you want to think about the war watch these two films and you won't want to think about the war ever again, trust me. That said I never understand beautiful memorials, and in the UK we use red poppies to represent it. it makes it abstract and bearable so when war comes around again the government gets new recruits. Also, the holocaust (even the 11 million number) doesn't rank first, but third on 20th century genocides. And when did you see a memorial to the two larger and more recent genocides? I obviously have some issues with this kind of memorial, but not with your photo! ;)
@chewyteeth Thanks for the movies to check out. Yes, he was at Sobibor. I heard some speakers who survived Rwanda genocide and they shared their amazing story at our church a few years back. I don't have a problem with any type of memorial, wish the others were represented, too, though. Where was the other recent genocide? Was it Sudan?
29 million killed in Russia I think, and about 60 million in china, still lots of Russians and Chinese in the US and UK but I don't know of any memorials. We (US and UK) didn't do anything to stop it though, which is a big thing in the holocaust. Not that we could have done anything. Mao killed lots of sparrows too in china, somewhere around 100 million is the estimate. Some people....
Very effective presentation of this memorial Amanda. I visited Auschwitz a few years ago and the memories of what I saw and heard will stay with me for ever. We must never forget.
@amandal Wonderful photograph regardless of opinions. I think photographs are so very personal so each viewer takes from it what they want since there are no words to fill your head with ideas, just the images. I have done lots of research and work with my students on the Holocaust, and I also know that about 3 million Polish citizens were exterminated, which, I believe, was about half of the population of Poland at the time. I also watched a documentary about the American GI's who were put in those camps also and the atrocities that they, too, faced as, of course, the Nazis had no regard for Geneva Convention and treatment of POW's.
You've found beauty in this memorial though.