July 2026 | Lina Baric, Madlen Eberl, and Melisa Oguz
On July 1, 2026, students in grades 9 through 12 went on a field trip to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial. We were accompanied by teachers Mr. Kollmeier, Mr. Glotz, Mr. Schertler, Mr. Gollasch, and Ms. Lechner.
The Mauthausen concentration camp was established by the SS in August 1938, shortly after Austria’s “Anschluss” to the German Reich. The nearby granite quarry was significant because prisoners were forced to perform hard labor there under inhumane conditions.
After we arrived, we first climbed the so-called “Stairway of Death.” On these stairs, the prisoners had to carry heavy granite blocks from the quarry up to the concentration camp. Many died of exhaustion or abuse, or were killed by the SS guards. Even for us, the climb was exhausting. This gave us some idea of just how inhumane the conditions must have been for the prisoners.
Over the years, various groups of people were imprisoned at Mauthausen. At first, they were primarily political opponents of the Nazi regime and so-called “professional criminals” (repeat offenders). Later, Jews, Sinti and Roma, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, prisoners of war, and people from many countries occupied by Germany, among others, were deported to Mauthausen.
During the tour, we learned a great deal about the history of the concentration camp. Particularly striking were the barracks where the prisoners were forced to live under the most appalling conditions, as well as the gas chamber and the crematoria. The gas chamber was used starting in 1942 for the systematic murder of prisoners. Seeing all of this with our own eyes was far more moving and shocking than photos or texts in class.
Between 1938 and 1945, approximately 190,000 people from more than 40 countries were deported to Mauthausen and its satellite camps. At least 90,000 people were murdered there or died from starvation, disease, forced labor, and abuse.
Many people in the surrounding community knew the camp existed and could see the prisoners at work. Some secretly helped individual prisoners, but many remained silent out of fear or went along with the Nazi regime.
On May 5, 1945, the Mauthausen concentration camp was liberated by soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 11th Armored Division.
The three of us were particularly struck by different aspects of the memorial. For Melisa, it was the “Stairway of Death.” She found it almost impossible to imagine that people had to carry those heavy stones under such conditions and that many died in the process.
Lina was particularly shaken by the gas chamber. Standing there and knowing what had happened in that place was very distressing.
Madlen was particularly struck by the barracks. It was hard to imagine that so many people had to live in such a small space.
The field trip showed us how important it is to honor the memory of the victims of National Socialism and not to forget history. Only by coming to terms with such crimes can we help ensure that something like this never happens again.
