Wansee Villa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Solution

Right now we're at the place where The Final Solution was discussed. The Final Solution was a meeting of the leaders of the Nazi Party in the Wansee Villa just outside of Berlin. At this meeting, the Nazi leaders discussed the plan to exterminate the Jews of Europe.

It is a really beautiful house overlooking the river. It is really striking how beautiful the house is and the marble pillars and marble fire place are. It was a really intense museum in the sense that it had constant words and quotes and historical text about the ideas and events leading up to this decision. It boggles my mind that human beings can still have a conversation about exterminating people, as if they are bugs. To be here and see how regal this place is put in the context that the men of the Third Reich were truly politicians and government people and police and truly decided the fate of millions in one room. I just don't understand how something like that could happen. The physical beauty and tranquility of the villa pissed me off. I have visited a few mansions and palaces and I now realize that these men were staying here and meeting as a retreat from their normal government offices. They lived their lives in luxury and arbitrarily decided in such a beautiful place the fate of millions.

Reading the information and quotes hit me, but it got emotional when I read quotes by survivors and grandchildren of survivors. It put a real face and name and context. The bulk of the exhibit was in black and white, but these quotes were in blue. The color showed hope and light.