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NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > AUSCHWITZ ASKING FOR HELP, AGAIN
AUSCHWITZ ASKING FOR HELP, AGAIN
January 13 2010
Oświęcim, Poland – While many genocides have occurred throughout history and many more are likely to happen again, there is a very good possibility that one series of events will forever be the definition of the concept of genocide. The acts by Nazi 
forces during World War II have become the cultural touchstone for mass murder, the events upon which all genocides since have been judged against, and the one upon which all future acts will be compared. Of all the horror that occurred during those years one name stands above all others, striking fear into the hearts of all good-hearted people, Auschwitz.
That camp has become synonymous with the Nazi butchery that left up to 15 million innocent people dead, and topped forever the incredibly bloody history that has defined Europe and her nations. Upon the liberation of the Auschwitz camp, the full horrors of the holocaust had been revealed to the entire world, and the depth of the atrocities that 
man can commit upon his fellow man was solidified, permanently given a name that will outlast generations. Now, 65-years after the liberation of that camp the people of Auschwitz are once again asking for the world’s help after years of independent operation. Though it’s likely the camp will receive the help it is looking for, many international bodies are reportedly growing weary of the ongoing drama associated with the camp.
“The buildings were constructed between two rivers on very boggy ground which has caused the foundations of many to decay. That has caused the deterioration of the structure of those buildings as they begin to lean, cracking plaster, buckling roof 
frames and other damage of that sort. If we do not start restoration soon the damage may become irreparable within the next two years,” said Jacek Kastelaniec, director-general of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. “We’ve received some monies to begin the restoration and have already begun work on the gas chambers and crematoriums but we need more revenue to restore everything. This is a very extensive camp and something as seemingly as restoring a single barracks could cost close to million Euro. We are begging the global community to help just as they did in 1945.”
The Polish government has pledged 40 per cent of the estimated €120 million that will be required to shore up the camp structures and restore the facilities, a number that has gotten many critics riled up, citing that it would be cheaper and easier to simply start fresh.
“Any contractor will tell you that is much, much more economical to build new than to
try and repair an old building. Corners are never plumb, certain materials decay very rapidly, and you really never know what you are going to find when you start tearing down walls. It makes a lot more sense to just start fresh,” said Fryderyk Budziszewski of Budziszewski Contracting. “The camp wasn’t really made to last, I mean they had a specific purpose, were used like crazy, and then were to have simply been abandoned when the job was done. That means that despite the fact that they were German engineered, the buildings were going to eventually fall. We could do everything they have there now and modernize the equipment for a whole lot less than they asking.”
Some fear that despite the renovations, the ongoing costs of maintaining the ever-aging facilities will put burdens of governments less inclined to pay for its continued maintenance.
“While there is certainly a nostalgia factor associated with these camps and a genuine desire for people to remember what went on here, the harsh reality is the presence of the camp hasn’t prevented genocides in, say, Rwanda or Cambodia or any of the other dozens of places it has occurred since these facilities were closed meaning that their presence has limited social impact,” said Scrape TV International analyst Gustav Hander. “Perhaps the best thing to do would be to start over. With modern buildings and facilities Auschwitz will be around for generations to tour and, if necessary, be put to use if the situation ever arises again. That would really be the smartest use of this money and ensure that future generations will find a compelling reason to continue to plug money into it.”
Syria has offered millions of Jews for the reconstructed facility but no one as yet has taken them up on the offer.
Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
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