I visited Dachau in 1973 when I was just out of school and the experience has stayed with me. I don't ever want to forget what I felt that day and make an effort by tuning in to programs like this one - The Last Survivors. This program which I caught on PBS took a different approach by talking to the survivors: the brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren of loved ones who perished there. They were asked about their memories of family members they lost 70 years afterwards. It was very moving to hear the memories they shared from their childhood. It was important to capture their words on film because they will soon be gone.
One woman recounted how she said goodbye to her mother who was taken from her and directed to a line for the older or weaker ones. They embraced and the mother said "I love you" to her child and that was the last she saw of her. Another talked about his brother who he was separated from and never saw again. For many years, they buried these memories, which were too painful to talk about.
Others seemed to be reluctant to talk saying it was of no use to share their private memories because people only want to listen to happy stories. How true that often is! One daughter urged her father to talk about it and listened and hugged him. Both had tears in their eyes. That must be better than keeping silent for fear of making people unhappy. I think we can share these private moments with people we are close to, not just for survivors but for others who want to hear.
One brother returned to his childhood home on a street in Krassen in Germany. He was able to witness the laying of small plaques honouring each of his parents and his brother. He was very elderly and he was naturally emotional. This sort of gesture is important because it allows the survivors to get some small piece of closure. It Is also important for others to know and learn from their stories.
