Dachau Concentration Camp.

[Adrian]

The dead would then be taken through to the crematorium. Bearing in mind the gas chamber at Dachau was never officially used as such the gas chamber was used to store bodies from the camp before they were put into the ovens.

There is a memorial plaque on the wall to four female members of the SOE who died and were cremated here at Dachau.

[Adrian]

At the far end of the building there is one more room that was used to store corpses before cremation.

[Adrian]

Back outside again and at the top end of the camp you look back to the maintenance building.

In the first image Jourhaus is in the trees to the right of the photo.

The second is looking back down the camp road.

The third is of the far side of the camp.

[Adrian]

The service buildings are no longer there but you can see where they once stood.

The watchtower you can see on the left of my photo can also be seen on the centre photo on the information board at top left.

[Adrian]

Walking back down the far side of the camp, near the end is another section of original perimeter fence.

The final photo is across the roll call area looking back towards the entrance and the Jourhaus.

[Adrian]

Beyond the maintenance building you find the bunker and bunker courtyard.

[Adrian]

Inside the bunker it's a foreboding and dark place.......

[Adrian]

Finally back into the maintenance building. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed. I was expecting a museum, artifacts, tangible objects to see and to get a feel of the place but unfortunately it has been turned into a fairly modernistic walk through exhibition with floor to ceiling mazes of text interpersed with photos.
That's fine of course but there is nothing in there I couldn't read in a book or on the internet. When I go to places like this I expect and want to see things I couldn't see without being there. I want exhibits and displays. There were none of the famous Dachau SS collar tabs for example, very very little by way of period items.

Here are the final photos from inside this building.

[Adrian]

That concludes by brief tour of Dachau. I hope it has been of interest and has provided a small insight to those who might never get the chance to visit.
The place does not leave you with an uncomfortable feeling which was surprising. I don't know if it's the sound of traffic, the buildings overlooking the camp and the fact it is surrounded by the sprawl of the town of Dachau or what - but while it was still an experience to be in a historical place and see the site where so many died and so much suffering happened - somehow it just doesn't encapsulate the atmosphere you would imagine.

[Scout]

I have not been to Dachau, but have been to other camps, as mentioned.
I got the same impression as you from other camps. Somehow very sterile.
Buchenwald did make a great impression on me, but that was years ago.
Things there may have been changed too.