History of World War II – Erik Smith

Name: Erik Smith

Type of Project: Study Abroad

1. My STEP Signature Project was to participate in the Ohio State History Department’s History of World War II Study Abroad Program. Through this program, I took three classes during the Spring 2016 semester that covered the history of the war, the holocaust, and European culture during this time period. I then traveled to Europe in May with my professors and fellow World War II scholars. As we traveled across Europe, we visited the famous sights and battlegrounds of World War II, such as the Churchill War Rooms in London, the D-Day Beaches in Normandy, the Memorial of the Deportation in France, Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Krakow, and the sight of Hitler’s bunker in Berlin.
   

   A picture of me in front of the Olympic Stadium in which Jesse Owens won four gold medals in 1936.

2. Through my Step Signature Project, I learned to be more appreciative of the opportunities I have in life and how fortunate I am to have been born into a country that is, comparatively, accepting of different kinds of people and into a time period that does not see violence leading to deaths of tens of millions of people. It is very easy for me to take things for granted and not appreciate how fortunate I am for what I have in life. Studying World War II and the Holocaust in depth was extremely humbling. When I saw the brutality and violence so many suffered at the hands of the Nazis, and the sacrifices so many soldiers, some younger than me, made, I began to fully realize the opportunities and advantages I have in life compared to so many others, both past and present.
3. There were three specific places that I visited while in Europe that led to this change the most for me. The first sight was the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. With over 9300 American servicemen buried here, walking through this cemetery was extremely humbling. Amongst the thousands of graves are twelve very special ones. There are twelve Ohio State students, alumni, and staff who were killed in the Normandy Campaign. It can sometimes be hard to relate to the situation that the soldiers in World War II were in. As we placed Ohio State flags at their graves, I imagined what it must have been like. Some of these men placed their educations on hold, others were working on beginning their careers, and some were in the middle of established careers. They all left behind family and friends. Many of them were in the exact same stage of life that I am in now. It was very humbling to realize the sacrifices they had made at this stage in life.                                                                                                                 

The second place I visited that lead to this change was Auschwitz Concentration Camp, right outside of Krakow, Poland. It is difficult to find words to describe Auschwitz. Walking through the gate and into the camp was like crossing a threshold into despair and hopelessness. Hundreds of thousands of people were brutally tortured and murdered inside of those gates. Seeing the huts where innocent prisoners spent their hours, walking through the gas chambers and crematoriums that claimed so many loves, and seeing the pit that held the ashes of hundreds of thousands of people was one of the hardest things I have done. Auschwitz is something everyone should see at some point, because no matter how many books you read, documentaries you watch, or lectures you hear on it, you cannot even begin to understand until you walk its grounds. Even then it is nearly impossible to fully comprehend the atrocities that took place there. Visiting Auschwitz is the most humbling experience I have ever had.

The final place is a bit more ambiguous. Around Berlin, there are small metal plaques embedded into the sidewalk marking the locations where deportations left for the concentration camps. These plaques served as a constant reminder of the dark history of the city and country. I would be walking down the sidewalk talking or taking in the sites when I would notice a plaque and instantly be reminded of what had happened in that exact place. These plaques seemed to be everywhere throughout Berlin. They helped to show the magnitude of the Holocaust. They also added a very real aspect to it. Normally, the stories of those in the Holocaust focus on their time in the camps. The plaques helped to show that they were ordinary, everyday people from regular cities. They added a human element to the statistics. They helped to make me realize how fortunate I am to not face similar persecution.

4. This change is so important in my life for multiple reasons. I think it is very easy to get carried away with the negatives in life. I find myself dwelling over the fact that I have a difficult paper to write or a long shift at work. I do not stop to appreciate the fact that I have to write a paper because I am getting an education from a great university, and I have to work a long shift because I have a job. There are many people who wish they could have just one of these things, and I am fortunate enough to have both. Since my study abroad trip, I have been able to appreciate more in life, which has made me a happier person.

Secondly, this transformation will help me with my professional goals. As a political science major, I hope to one-day hold an office as a politician. For politicians, it is vitally important to be able to understand other people’s hardships, even if you have not experienced them. It is also important to be able to be able to relate to your constituents. I think that being able to view the world and my place in it in a more positive, appreciative manner will strengthen the skills I will utilize in politics. Overall, my Step Signature Project has helped to improve my outlook on life and prepare me for the coming stages of life.