Quiet day, loud evening

This day was unique - on our way to Munich to celebrate Bavarian folk culture and food, we made a two stops. The first, in Nürnberg, was an introduction, to many of the kids, to the rise and fall of the Third Reich in Germany. The Nazi Documentation Centre, a slick, high-tech museum created in Hitler's unfinished Nazi Congress Hall, seeks to explain the rise of Nazism in Germany, and it's consequences for the people of Europe in the mid 20th century. Ending with a video presentation on the famous Nürnberg trials, showing various Nazi leaders making excuses or passing responsibility to others, and another which documents, through interviews with people who were there as both supporters and enemies (by birth) of Hitler, the museum almost overwhelms the first time visitor. Nürnberg was the site of all the famously filmed Nazi Party rallies, where huge crowds of Hitler loyalists gathered in a very purposeful display of unity and power.
After, we were off to the Dachau concentration camp. This work camp established right after Hitler seized power was first used for political dissidents and "regular" criminals, but soon became a dumping ground for any non-"aryans" and other "asocial" elements of society. As I pointed out to the kids at the end of our tour here - Dachau is a reminder that racism, bigotry, intolerance of any kind is a slipper slope, and that we need to be kind to each other.
Upon arriving in Munich, we checked into our Palace quite easily, and then headed off to the Hofbrauhaus. Rens dropped us off very close, but in order to do that, he had to do something "a little bit illegal", which was OK by us. The Hofbrauhaus was a lot of sausages, pork steaks, pork knuckles, potato salad and water. And knee slapping boys dancing with spinning girls. Great fun, and a nice way to end an otherwise solemn day.

One of the rooms in the documentation centre, detailing the events of the Reichstag fire, that helped propel Hitler to absolute power in Germany.

The beginning of the NSADP in Germany.

Very disturbing original school work from German children during the era of the Hitler Youth. Hitler understood that to have lasting control of the nation, his most important target would have to be children.

The cult of Hitler affected grandmas and housewives, school children and school teachers.

The master of propaganda rises to the podium at the Nuremberg stadium grou

The nazis were twisted little bullies, who delighted in public displays of humiliation and degradation.

Contemplating the gate that 200 000 prisoners came through during the active years of the Dachau concentration camp. Though this was set up as a work camp, rather than an extermination camp, roughly 1/4 of them didn't make it out alive.

Entering the gate.

The prisoner-built former administration office of the camp is now a fine museum with information and displays to help the visitor grasp the severity of Nazi beliefs and practices.

Where the inmates of Dachau came from.

The symbol legend for prisoner clothing. Everyone had symbols on their clothes to let the guards and other prisoners know why they were there. But instead of representing actual crimes, the symbols represented racial, religious, and other backgrounds.