A German Plan: House Refugees In An Old Concentration Camp - Polidicks

[QUOTE][img]http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/01/16/37297341_h34227406edit_wide-6c89a1095f7a17371586daed5b745dc1d92b5162-s800-c85.jpg[/img] [I]The warden's barracks at a satellite camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp in Schwerte, Germany, on Jan. 13. According to media reports, the city has proposed housing around 20 refugees in buildings at the camp. The move has drawn protests in Germany.[/I][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]A housing shortage for asylum seekers in Germany has led one city to propose a controversial solution that would place 21 refugees in a barracks on the grounds of a Nazi-era concentration camp. Carsten Morgenthal, who is a spokesman for the city of Schwerte in North Rhine Westphalia, tells the Westdeutsche Allgemeine newspaper it isn't the first time this would be done. Two decades ago, Schwerte officials also placed refugees at what was once a forced labor branch of the notorious Buchenwald camp during World War II. Schwerte officials say the building they plan to use for the latest asylum seekers was actually built after the war. In addition to lodging the earlier refugees, it's been used as a kindergarten, a warehouse and an artists studio. But other German officials — including the premier of North Rhine Westphalia — say the plan is unacceptable. A growing chorus is criticizing Schwerte for being insensitive toward the refugees and the camp's painful history. Rikola-Gunnar Luettgenau, who is deputy director of the Buchenwald memorial, told DPA news agency that what the city is proposing is a "bad solution." Schwerte's leaders say they are surprised by the outcry, and they refuse to budge. "All buildings can't be taboo 70 years after the Second World War," Mayor Heinrich Boeckeluehr told Zeit Online. In an interview with German public radio's Mitteldeutschen Rundfunk, Birgit Naujocks, who heads the NRW Refugee Council, called on the city to instead use repurposed shipping containers for the refugees. The city dismissed that idea as too expensive. With an ever growing number of refugees arriving in Germany, the national government is asking local governments to contend with the newcomers. The figures are still being tabulated, but United Nations officials say that in 2014 Germany likely had its highest number of asylum seekers in the past two decades — more than twice as many as France and 20,000 more than the U.S.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2015/01/16/377756096/a-german-plan-house-refugees-in-an-old-concentration-camp?[/url]

hope they don't need to shower

If they're out of room, and there's a perfectly suitable building to house them in, why the hell not? I doubt the refugees are the ones complaining about this.

I don't see any issue with this, it's a pretty pragmatic and utilitarian approach to housing if the buildings are up to code. Just because they had a bad past (which it says the building they want to use is post-war anyway) doesn't mean they can never be used again. What matters isn't the buildings, but the people running the buildings, and those people are long gone.

I think this is pretty awesome? Once made to kill "foreigners", now maybe a nice home for them??? [editline]19th January 2015[/editline] [quote] In addition to lodging the earlier refugees, it's been used as a kindergarten, a warehouse and an artists studio.[/quote] [editline]19th January 2015[/editline] [quote]In an interview with German public radio's Mitteldeutschen Rundfunk, Birgit Naujocks, who heads the NRW Refugee Council, called on the city to instead use repurposed shipping containers for the refugees. The city dismissed that idea as too expensive.[/quote] Yes, that's certainly better, fucking idiots.

Disrespectful? It's respectful to use the area for something good rather than cling to the dark past endlessly.

The Netherlands also housed Moluccans in concentration camps after WOII. It's not that bad of a thing to do, but you have take into account that some of these people are superstitious.

It seems like a fine final solution to the question of immigrants.

[QUOTE=Riller;46965252]It seems like a fine final solution to the question of immigrants.[/QUOTE] After all, everyone needs their Lebensraum.

[QUOTE=Talishmar;46965233]Disrespectful? It's respectful to use the area for something good rather than cling to the dark past endlessly.[/QUOTE] Germans are overly cautious. Honestly can't blame them, but still, they're taking it too far.

I'm surprised camps that aren't turned into museums weren't demolished completely.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;46965343]I'm surprised camps that aren't turned into museums weren't demolished completely.[/QUOTE] Probably just a financial thing.

I don't see this as a problem if your a refugee you should not consider your asylum a holiday. The uk has housed asylum seekers in 4 star hotels before. Asylum should be considered the last alternative for a person not the first.

People who protest this need to take a step back and realise they're being irrational. What the fuck are they supposed to do? Raze the building and build another one it for purely symbolic reasons?

I can see that it's a bit awkward to use this historical site in such a purpose. But if it's good to use, why not? I mean it's not as if there are intact death chambers still around.

Only 21? Why not 6 million? :v:

i wonder how shower conditions will be

I feel like an idea like this can only come out of Germany :v: [sp](It's a 'German efficiency hurr' joke, not a Nazi one)[/sp]

Why not, also why do other Nazi supporting countries get a free pass? Not all were conquered

[QUOTE=Boookie;46966231]Why not, also why do other Nazi supporting countries get a free pass? Not all were conquered[/QUOTE] because dumb, uninformed people

[QUOTE=Talishmar;46965233]Disrespectful? It's respectful to use the area for something good rather than [B]cling to the dark past endlessly[/B].[/QUOTE] yeah that sounds like germany alright

[QUOTE=Boookie;46966231]Why not, also why do other Nazi supporting countries get a free pass? Not all were conquered[/QUOTE] Because ONLY GERMANS CAN BE NAZIS. People are ignorant, I've had people ask me if the Nazis are still in power in Germany or if theres a Hitler day. (pls ignore my avatar it is satire)

[QUOTE=Lone Wolf807;46967369]Hitler day.[/QUOTE] Don't forget about the Proud German Race Parade.

Why not? nothing could be a bigger middle finger to hitlers hatred of all things different than to use his camps to house foreign people escaping oppression.

Imagine the balls of the guy who said, "Vhy don't ve send zem to Buchenwald?" and then the dead silence that followed before he clarified his idea.

At some point it's healthy to rehabilitate these locations and bring them into mainstream use. This sounds like a good use. Historical locations should be preserved, but other than that everything else should be fair game.

[QUOTE=Brandy92;46965425]Probably just a financial thing.[/QUOTE] I think he means during the war Nazi's wanted to hide it.

[QUOTE=theevilldeadII;46967909]I think he means during the war Nazi's wanted to hide it.[/QUOTE] Well we know of them all now, so if you're not going to use the buildings then fucking demolish them. The ghost of Adolf Hitler isn't going to come for you in your sleep because you're not leaving them there as shrines to his legacy or some shit.