West Lothian students reflect on their trip to Auschwitz

Sep 15 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

FOR the students from West Lothian who were selected to take part in the trip to Auschwitz, the visit was an emotional experience.

Armadale Academy pupil Alistair Renton said he had made the trip fully expecting to feel some kind of deep emotional response.

But the advanced higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies pupil was honest enough to admit he found it hard to relate to the suffering.

“I expected it to be a trying experience that got me really emotionally involved and would make me really reflect about not only my own life but life in general,” Alistair candidly said.

“I had limited knowledge of the Holocaust before we went. I knew it was the mass execution of millions of people and I knew it was organised by the Nazi SS but not much else.

“I think what shocked me the most was how much I couldn’t relate to those who had died. What they went through was terrible but I just didn’t “feel” the emotion I thought I should. I felt bad about not feeling bad.

“I learned a lot about myself, as well as seeing something I always wanted to.”

Fellow Armadale pupil Kayleigh McNeil felt the trip had changed the way she looked at the world and agreed with the Holocaust Educational Trust’s mantra that “hearing is not like seeing”.

“While walking about the two camps, I felt a connection as we were at the place where it all occurred and learning of its history,” Kayleigh said.

“It has made me feel very differently towards people. To hear about the pain and suffering that people went through has changed the way I view people and it has also made me respect people more.

“The gas chambers really shocked me as you could see the dried blood and the scratch marks on the walls. It made me feel so terrible to think what people were put through.”

Michael Cameron, 17, who is a 6th-year advanced history student at St Margaret’s Academy, had been unsure of what to expect from the trip.

“I knew it would be grim, and it was, but it was still an interesting and enjoyable day,” he said.

“When I was there and walking around, it was eerily quiet and peaceful. I don’t think it is possible to comprehend what it must have been like for the people who were sent there.

“I felt fortunate to be there. It’s not something I am going to ever forget and think everyone should go there for themselves to see it.”

Fellow St Margaret’s pupil Claire Welsh, 16, was overwhelmed by the size of the camps.

The history student admitted: “You can see photos in text books but it is only when you are there that you can get more of an idea of the sheer scale of the place and what actually happened there.

“Especially when we went to Birkenau and you saw how massive it was. The first camp was not purpose built and was used as an army camp before but they built Birkenau just to kill people.

“I think everyone was just in shock as we were walking around trying to think about what happened there. Being there made it all more real.”

For Deans Community High pupil Lisa Dalzell, coming face-to-face with the mountains of possessions that were taken from the victims of the gas chambers was what had the most profound effect on her.

“Seeing all the possession they had – like the shoes, suitcases, glasses and the hair – piled up was something I won’t forget,” the 17-year-old said.

“There were so many things and it brought home the true extent of the number of people murdered there.”

Douglas Fleming, 17 said he had gone through a variety of emotions during the day.

The Deans High pupil revealed: “When you look from the watch tower at Birkenau, you still cannot imagine it. They had destroyed some of the building but it did give you a good sense of the scale of it and what it must have looked like.

“It was so large and this wasn’t the only concentration camp.

“I felt a lot of mixed emotions during the visit. It was strange as at times I would feel so sad but then you would be told something that made me feel angry or gasp in horror.

“It was a draining day in many ways, both mentally and psychically, but an eye opening experience.

“You hear the figures but it’s still hard to take in and comprehend it. It’s now our job to be ambassadors and spread the word about what we’ve seen.”