Preceding the Munich Security Conference and a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance, visited the Dachau concentration camp on Thursday. This poignant location serves as a stark reminder of the horrors inflicted by the Nazi regime during World War II.
Vance, standing near the camp's entrance, expressed the profound impact of the visit, stating, "What happened here should never be repeated." He emphasized the significance of witnessing the site firsthand, adding, "Reading about it is one thing, but being here provides a much deeper understanding of the atrocities committed and reinforces our commitment to preventing such horrors from ever occurring again."
The Vances, joined by 96-year-old Holocaust survivor and former Dachau inmate Abba Naor, paid their respects by laying a wreath adorned with a red, white, and blue ribbon at the International Monument. This bronze sculpture powerfully symbolizes the suffering endured by those imprisoned within the camp's barbed wire fences. The Vice President and Second Lady also paused at a wall inscribed with "Never again" in multiple languages, where an urn containing the ashes of an unidentified prisoner serves as a somber reminder of the countless lives lost.
Dachau held over 200,000 individuals between 1933 and 1945, with estimates suggesting over 40,000 perished within its walls. Vance joins a number of high-ranking American officials who have visited the site, including President Joe Biden (both as Vice President and President) and former Vice President Mike Pence.
Deeply moved by his experience, Vance stressed the importance of preserving Dachau as a memorial, stating, "It's crucial that this site exists so that those of us fortunate enough to be alive can learn from the past and dedicate ourselves to preventing such atrocities from happening again."
Following the Dachau visit, the Vice President's five-day European trip will continue with his participation in the Munich Security Conference. There, he will engage with global leaders, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Discussions with Zelenskyy are anticipated to focus on President Trump's strategies for resolving the ongoing three-year conflict.
