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A Dark History

Suppose one night someone wakes us from our sleep, and we find ourselves in a whole new world? This new world offers little, if any, nourishment, clothing, medical attention, and things that we may take for granted in our lives. Imagine that those who took us were people we did not know, and they spoke a language we did not understand. Moreover, these strangers loaded us onto trains with our families, several of our neighbors and friends, and dropped us all here in this foreign place that is just short of hell.

 Sadly, this scenario closely aligns with what many experienced during The Holocaust. Taduesz Borowski in his, “This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen”, tells a horrific story about the treatment of people in concentration camps. Families were ripped apart and millions were beaten, given harsh work to do, starved, shot, and placed in gas chambers. It was one of the most gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, darkest periods in our history. The story focuses on the daily rituals of one of the prisoners in the camp. He describes the terrifying scenes he witnesses when new transports are brought in. Consequently, he also plays a role in the rituals. Most of the individuals have no idea what is about to happen to them. Many die before they reach the destination. The travel is long, hard, hot, and unbearable. Once those that survive arrive at the destination, their belongings are snatched away from them and many are led away to their death. The narrator is in an impossible situation. He is alive, but only because he adheres to the unsavory job he has been given. At points during the story, he even blames the victims for his predicament. If they were not there, then he would not be forced to carry out such awful deeds. However, one wrong move, or form of disobedience, and he might be killed. He is not living; he is instead just surviving. 

The Holocaust is most certainly a devastating mark in our history, but it is important that our students are well-informed about this dark history. The Holocaust Museum of Houston is now offering virtual tours for classrooms and community groups. A live Museum Docent is available to interact with your class. The “Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers” tour runs for approximately 30 minutes and is packed with photographs and personal stories. Please visit their website to learn more about their offerings and plan the best approach for your class.    



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