4L & 4M’s trip to Hartheim

On Friday, February 2, 2024, the 4L and the 4M visited the memorial site of Hartheim Castle.
When the two classes visited Hartheim, a lot of them expected it to look dark, gloomy, and sad, given its history as a site of mass murder. However, upon arrival, our expectations were challenged by our tour guide asking whether it looked like a welcoming place or a sinister place where 30,000 people died. Surprisingly, many of us found it deceptively nice, a facade that concealed its terrible and tragic past.

One of the most shocking things we learned was how cramped the gas chamber was, fitting 150 people. When disabled people arrived at Hartheim, „special doctors“ would examine them after telling them to undress. They heartlessly made up illnesses, then led the disabled into the gas chambers. They would write down a fake cause of death, then instruct the victims to shower in the gas chamber room, thinking they would return safely. But once inside, the gas would be turned on, killing them. Weeks later, secretaries would send letters to their families, falsely attributing their deaths to the fabricated illness. Families were also forced to pay for their belongings.

Both classes were deeply impacted by the trip. It was difficult to imagine the suffering endured by those innocent people.
-Saanvi Marthala 4L