History of Sorts

The title is a line from a song by Gary Moore and Phil Lynott, “Out in the Fields.” Although the song has nothing to do with the Holocaust, the particular line I used for this title was a reality for millions.

Millions were murdered for no reason other than hate and a warped sense of superiority, by the perpetrators.

We cannot begin to compare all the ways the Nazis used to slaughter innocent lives. All the manners of execution were unfathomable. Be it the executions by the Einsatzgruppen or the use of dynamite to experiment with more efficient ways of killing or any other way.

One method of extermination stood out above all others—the mass killing in gas chambers. For a long time, it was believed that the victims died quickly. In fact, it could sometimes take up to half an hour before they would die. It then makes sense that the youngest and healthiest would suffer the longest in the gas chambers.

Aside from the killing, their last dignity was taken away from them before they entered the Gas chambers. They were told they were going to shower and be deloused. They were ordered to strip naked, not in a private cubicle, but altogether, and then enter the “showers.” Regardless of age, every last bit of privacy and dignity was stolen from them.

Millions of last heartbeats.

I have to believe though, that after they died they went to a better place. Although I am a reasonably religious man, this sentiment doesn’t have much to do with religion but more with spirituality. I have to believe this because if I knew they didn’t go to a better place, I just could not cope with that and would drive me insane. However. that is my feeling on it and I fully appreciate and respect others thinking differently about that.

Source of pictures

Yad Vashem