A steady drizzle added to the solemn atmosphere of the day. We were headed to Dachau thinking it might be an overwhelming day. As we stood in the area where roll call was held each morning for the prisoners, we listened to our guide as he explained how Dachau served the Nazis plan and events that took place there. We were told that many times the prisoners sometimes stood for hours each day during morning roll call. We all imagined how cold and wet they would have been on a morning like ours. Seeing the gate the prisoners walked through that said “Work will set you free”, we realized the terror that must have been in their hearts as they entered.
It’s not about remembering what happened here, it’s about not forgetting it.
Our next stop certainly was a different kind of experience. This opulent church in the German countryside surrounded by green fields and animals was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary day. The Rococo style oval Pilgrimage Church of Wies ( Wieskirche) was almost unbelievable. So much ornate, frilly, and very delicate decor was a surprise when we went inside.