Today was a great day. We went to the Dachau concentration camp. When you walk on ground where tens of thousands of people were murdered and tortured, it is a moving experience. In the main building they had exhibits that told the 12 year story of the atrocities of Hitler's hinchmen. It is hard to believe people could be so cruel and inhumane. There are pictures but you really have to experience the place.
It is something we will never forget.
The rest of the day was spent by Nonette shopping; she wears a size 39 shoe in Europe, and me visiting the BMW museum and factory. No pictures of the shopping carnage, but I made lots of pictures of old BMWs. For an old car guy like me, and some of you, it just doesn't get much better. I originally went for the museum but they had one opening in the English speaking factory tour so I filled the spot. I watched them start with flat pieces of sheet metal and end up with a car driving off the assembly line. Pictures on the factory tour are verboten.
We bought our supper in a grocery store in the basement of a department store much like Dillards. We do have a picture of our picnic in the hotel room. It was yummy. We even bought milk and pastries for a late night snack.
Tomorrow we rent a car and drive through the Bavarian castle country, The Black Forest, and the Alsace region of France.
Don't know about the internet at any of these places, but keep checking back for the hillbillies on holiday.
THE FRONT GATE AT DACHAU
THIS GATE SAID WORK WILL MAKE YOU FREE
THEY HAD 40 OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT HOUSED 60,000 PRISONERS
THIS IS WHERE THEY SLEPT
A CEMENT POST THAT HELD THE ELECTRIC WIRE
THE GERMANS BUILT THIS FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF LAYING SOME POOR SOUL ON IT AND BEATING THEM WITH THE STICK
THE SIGN SAYS
MAY THE EXAMPLE OF THESE WHO WERE EXTERMINATED HERE, BETWEEN 1933 AND 1945, BECAUSE THEY RESISTED NAZISM, HELP TO UNITE THE LIVING FOR THE DEFENSE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM AND IN RESPECT FOR THEIR FELLOW MEN.
MAY THE EXAMPLE OF THESE WHO WERE EXTERMINATED HERE, BETWEEN 1933 AND 1945, BECAUSE THEY RESISTED NAZISM, HELP TO UNITE THE LIVING FOR THE DEFENSE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM AND IN RESPECT FOR THEIR FELLOW MEN.
NONETTE WITH WREATHS THAT STRETCHED FOR 50 YARDS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS FROM WHERE NONETTE WAS STANDING
WE DON'T KNOW WHO PUT THEM THERE ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
BMW
BMW GOT STARTED BUILDING AIRPLANE ENGINES DURING WWI
PRE-WAR RACE CAR
1957 507
1936 328
THE ISSETA THAT HELPED GET THEM BACK IN THE CAR BUSINESS AFTER THE WAR
I PUT THIS ONE IN HERE FOR YOU, THURMAN
GREAT LINES IN 1939
BMW WELT IN MUNICH
THE HOTEL PICNIC OF ROAST CHICKEN, ASPARAGUS, FRUIT SALAD, BREAD AND CARBONATED APPLE JUICE. BONA PATEET
My Uncle Lloyd was with the unit/battalion (whatever) that first entered Dachau. He never spoke about it; but after he died, we found a small leather diary he kept from the time he left Lamesa on the bus until after the war. That's how we found out what he really did during the war.
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