SS-Sammellager Mechelen

[CARL]

EXHIBITIONS - TRANSPORTS:

The next image shows a large room located within the basement area of the former Sammellager. Today, this room houses a striking exhibition that leaves all visitors with an unforgetable memory of the camp. Each of the 28 transports to leave Sammellager Mechelen is marked by a large block. The date of departure and order number are noted on the front side, as shown in the attachment. Pupils from 17 different schools, from Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia read out the names of all 25,834 victims through 28 loudspeakers in the room. The effect is quite memorable, with the jumbled noise only adding to the sense of incomprehension. Screens in the room also display the faces of many of those who died.

[Gunny Hartmann]

The yard looks quite a pleasant place now, but back then it must have a place of real misery.

[CARL]

The yard looks quite a pleasant place now, but back then it must have a place of real misery.

Indeed Gunny, it certainly is a pleasant and relaxing place now. The wings of the structure are gradually being developed and utilised. Work was being carried out when we visited, and at least one section has had civil housing units within it for quite some time. The building also housed the Jewish Museum of Deportation and Resistance for many years, until it was deemed a larger structure, shown earlier in the thread, was required.

[Kevin Grootaers]

I live, in the neighborhood and have never been there thanks for sharing.

[CARL]

I live, in the neighborhood and have never been there thanks for sharing.

You are most welcome. I would hope that the thread may perhaps encourage you to pay a visit sometime. It is well worthwhile. There is a fee to enter the modern museum, but the original Sammellager courtyard is accessible to all, without charge.

[CARL]

Yesterday, the 19th April, marked the 70th anniversary of the "20th Transport", mentioned earlier in the thread. Here is a link to a thread concerning a BBC article regarding the tale of Simon Gronowski, a Belgian Jew who escaped the transport destined for Auschwitz and survived the war. Today, he is the sole survivor of the "20th Transport".

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/histor...s-tale-292409/