When I woke up this morning and realized it was 70 years ago today since Auschwitz was opened. And with hair as prompt at dVerse today, I could not really avoid bringing up how hair had been collected from the Jews. There are still a few survivors who can tell, but ten years from now, there are likely to be non alive to tell.
Arriving to be processed
from families to numbers.
To cut the hair from girls
an act of dehumanization
no smiles in Birkenau
when long dark tresses fell
from scissors close to scalps.
Sorted into Zyklon-B or work.
But why was all their hair
so carefully collected?
From Wikimedia Commons
—
January 27, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
i knew of the anniversary…even if we could call it that…it sounds too festive for such an occassion you know….ugh…walking the museum …tore me up…
oh heck björn – that is not an easy one to digest – just saw a little reportage about auschwitz on tv as well… it’s hard to imagine that human beings can be so cruel to other human beings
I think removing the hair was part of actually manage at all..
No hair = no power, no voice
Interesting. I love history pieces…and this one of hair? Hmmm
whoa…. My heart aches after reading this…
So tragic…reminds me of heroes I have worked for years ago.
How humiliating & devastating. Your poem is a good reminder of this anniversary, Bjorn. Never again, never again.
Those questions, simple and sincere, will forever haunt, unanswered.
A good reminder of what happens when good people avert their eyes and turn their backs….We had neighbors who were part of the Polish Diaspora and a local rabbi who survived Auschwitz. I grew up with horror stories told by both groups. and to think, there are people who believe this was a made up event…devastating piece, but excellent.
Love well-thought-out historical questions!
I saw some footage and was reminded of this tragedy & horror ~ Its good to be reminded so we will learn never to let this happen again ~
A horrific chapter in history…why the hair? part of the dehumanization
stunning piece, Bjorn.
So glad you brought thia to our awareness, Bjorn. Such a horrible chapter in our recent history and sadly, the realities of genocide continues to play out.
This was powerful and depressing at the same time. It never ceases to shock me at the acts of dehumanization committed.
…as a sick prize. I visited the Holocaust museum twice in Washington DC and I will never forget it. Stacks of shoes – walls of portraits and walking through the “cattle cars”. I’m glad you wrote this poem – we must not forget.
I’m glad you acknowledged this today, Bjorn. It never ceases to amaze and rekindle the disbelief.
And yes i couldn’t help but to picture HIS mustache too…
The devil comes in many forms with hair or not..
and this date must always be remembered for those with hair
of truth..or not….
You have written well of a dark time in history. It’s very good question – what dreadful sick minds the Nazis had.
A remembrance that brings tears to the eyes.
We must never forget. Never ever.
I will never understand how such horrific acts took place, so terribly sad to see just how inhuman some people can be. Your poem is full of emotion and brought tears to my eyes. Wonderfully penned!
What it the scariest is the cruelty is very much human.. animals are capable of compassion, but not cruelty.. humans can do both.
No hair=part of dehumanising,…I think Dina said it well
We could Wish forgetting meant never repeated
From what I’ve read in the past, Bjorn, the Nazis collected and put everything into categories. They were fanatics about it. They even kept things like eyeglasses, artificial limbs, false teeth, etc. It’s sickening. — Suzanne