Tourist sparks outrage after posing on railway tracks at Auschwitz that were used to transport millions to their deaths
A TOURIST has sparked outrage after posing for a photo on the railway line that was used to transport millions to the deaths at Auschwitz.
A photo that showed the woman lying across the tracks was shared on Twitter in a move that has been branded “absolutely disgusting.”
It’s estimated 1.1million Jews, Romani people, ethnic Poles, Soviet citizens, Soviet prisoners of war, political opponents, homosexuals and Jehovah’s Witnesses died at the camp over 5 years.
The infamous tracks leading into the camp known as the “Gate of Death” were used to transport victims during the holocaust as part of Hitler’s final solution.
The picture shared by Twitter user Maria Murphy was captioned: ” Today I had one of the most harrowing experiences of my life.
“Regrettably it didn’t seem everyone found it that poignant.”
Draped across the railway line near a group of other visitors, the woman poses while running her hands through her hair.
A man is also seen squatting down to take the photo on a mobile phone.
The out-of-touch picture sparked fierce backlash online after receiving over 4 million views.
Gemma Sherlock commented: “Absolutely disgusting. When I went, people were taking selfies. So disrespectful.”
Another added: “What the actual f***.”
Whilst one Twitter user shared their horrifying experience: “About 20 years ago, I had a couple ask me if I would take their photograph, smiling in front of the Dachau crematorium.
“It horrifies me to think how much worse this behaviour must be in the Instagram era.”
In 1947, the site in Poland was opened as a memorial and museum that serves as a symbol of the Nazi genocide.
Since then several people have been named and shamed for taking offensive selfies at the death camp.
In 2014 an image of a smiling teen went viral while others were seen taking snaps in front of the museum’s haunting displays.
Some years later, the official account for Auschwitz Memorial called on visitors not to balance on the tracks for candid images out of respect for those killed at the site.
It said: “There are better places to learn how to walk on a balance beam than the site which symbolises deportation of hundreds of thousands to their deaths.”
Visitors are encouraged not to take photos but critics called for a total ban on selfies at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is visited by millions every year.