As one who would have probably finished up in one of these establishments due to my ancestry, had Hitler continued across the Channel and conquered Britain, the visit to Dachau was a moving experience.Our guide, Stephen, from Radius Tours, was very knowledgeable and gave the social and political history leading up to the establishment of the camp, and others like it. His delivery was neutral and left the individual to form his/her own opinion on the various exhibits to which we were exposed. It was evident, however, that he was deeply moved by the camp and he is to be commended on his dedication to the education of others.
The fact that Dachau was the model for the other camps and that camp commandants were trained in Dachau, lent it a far more sinister air. It seemed inconceivable that a town as pretty as Dachau could be the site for such a horror and the fact that houses are built right up to the boundary of the camp is an irony. The Living, living so close to the Dead. The Dachau Memorial organisation hopes that the maintenance of the camp will serve as a deterrent to a repeat of the same horror. One wonders if it has had any effect.
Notes on the various images give the background.