Within a long week in 2021, Americans will commemorate both Memorial Day and D-Day, the Allied invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944. With that in mind, we’ve updated our visit to the World War 2 and Holocaust Museum at Kennesaw State. Tucked away in an abandoned outlet mall along I-75, this little historic gem is easy to miss. For those who appreciate history and are open to learning its vital lessons, spending a few hours in the solemn and somber exhibits will remind you just how important and precious our freedoms are.
Remembering D-Day
On D-Day, some 156,000 American, Canadian and British forces fought their way ashore on the beaches of Northern France in the face of fierce enemy fire from fortified positions. By June 11, the largest amphibious invasion in history was completed, with more than 326,000 men, 50,000+ vehicles and more than 100,000 tons of supplies landed in France.
The war would rage on for another year. As it drew to an end, Allied soldiers found and freed hundreds of thousands of imprisoned Jewish survivors of the German concentration and extermination camps. The world was horrified to learn of these captives and their condition. But the worst was yet to come as the truth emerged about Adolph Hitler’s “Final Solution,” the scale of the evil extermination operations and the murder of more than 6 million people.
It was exactly 72 years later – June 6, 2016 – when I discovered by accident the Museum of History and Holocaust Education in an abandoned outlet mall just off I-75 in Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University owns the former mall, now home to the College of Continuing and Professional Education. And while I was attending a corporate-sponsored program on the D-Day anniversary, I found this hidden history treasure. Since then, I’ve made several return trips and discovered new exhibits and details with each return.
The Holocaust Exhibits
The main museum is built inside a simulated concrete block vault, which from outside and in creates the feeling of a prison. Without a doubt, the most powerful sections of the museum are those dedicated to the Holocaust story. Your introduction is a butterfly display at the entrance, accompanied by creations of local schoolchildren who participated in museum programs. Along a wall sits a solitary bench, and behind it an excerpt from Pavel Friedman’s poem, The Butterfly, which he wrote in 1942 while captive in the Terezin Ghetto when he was 21. He was dead at the age of 23 at Auschwitz, and the poem was found after the end of the war in his belongings.
Immediately following is the main exhibit, named Parallel Journeys. In literal side-by-side displays, stories of individuals on both sides of the tragedy are portrayed with personal details. Anne Frank’s well-known personal story is among those included, along with other Jewish victims. Hauntingly and unexpectedly, Parallel Journeys also documents how regular people were pulled or seduced to become engaged in Hitler’s scheme. There’s Stella Goldschlag, a Jewish woman who became a “catcher” and betrayed her community to the Germans – until she herself is turned in by another like her. And Irma Grese, a young German woman indoctrinated into the beliefs of the SS who became a prison guard at Auschwitz, and at age 19 was put in charge of more than 18,000 women prisoners at Bergen-Belson concentration camp. Her reputation for cruelty earned her the name, “Bitch of Belson,” then she herself was executed following a trial after the war.
I find it impossible to convey here in mere words the experience of reading these stories, or the sorrow I felt for the victims. I’ve visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, and while it’s a deeper and broader experience, the Museum of History and Holocaust Education both conveys the Holocaust horrors and connects visitors to real people who lived and died during this time.
Georgia Journeys
This exhibit was developed through an oral history project of the Museum. It tracks the lives and stories of a dozen people with ties to Georgia whose experiences reached throughout the world. The stories of soldiers, a Tuskegee airman, a “Rosie-the-Riveter” Savannah factory worker, a Hebrew teacher, a code breaker and others are told in multimedia form, bringing to life the stories of how ordinary people contributed to the war effort in extraordinary ways. Beyond the physical display in Kennesaw, the museum has archived and made available online some of the original interviews.
Other Exhibits
Outside the main museum, several other exhibits highlight Georgia’s role in World War II, local heroes, the Tuskegee Airmen and more. The exhibit on the Power of Propaganda is a stark reminder of how demagoguery, nationalism, government power and misinformation can be combined to mislead nations with disastrous consequences. It has particular relevance in today’s highly-charged political world where opposing viewpoints and investigative reporting are often discarded as “fake news,” and individuals look only at the information or sources that conform to or reinforce their own views.
For native Georgians or those curious about the impact of war on the region, a section entitled “V for Victory” includes great information on Georgia factories, facilities and other contributions. The Marietta Bell plant, which produced the B-29 bomber, several Georgia training bases and POW locations, plus the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards all get detailed attention for their roles before, during and after the war.
Programs and Events
The museum and its extended supporter community offer a variety of programs at the site. Traveling suitcases are loaned to schools for education programs, home-schooling programs are hosted onsite, and a variety of education and lecture series are conducted periodically. A recent program featured a Jimmy Doi, a Japanese-American included in the Georgia Journey’s section. Doi recounted his personal story of captivity in America’s internment camps, then joining the US military and serving his country in Europe. You can “Like” and follow the museum on Facebook to get these regular updates.
When and How to Visit
The museum is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. As part of Kennesaw State University, it observes the University’s holiday schedule, so you may want to check before you visit. Admission is free, and donations are always greatly appreciated to support the museum’s mission. Individual visits are self-guided. The museum offers docent-led tours for groups of 20 or more, and for schools.
The museum is located near the intersection of I-75 and Chastain Road, behind the Cracker Barrel Restaurant. The address for your GPS:
Museum of History and Holocaust Education, 3333 Busbee Dr NW. Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
(470) 578-2083
Local Day-Trip Pairings
You likely won’t spend an entire day at the museum. If you’re interested in other nearby historical locations, here are a few we’ve visited and recommend:
Gone With the Wind Museum. Located in nearby Marietta, this museum is dedicated to the story and history of the epic film depicting Civil War times.
Pickett’s Mill State Historical Site. Part of the Georgia State Park System, this battle was the last Southern victory of the Georgia campaign. Interestingly, General William T. Sherman omitted mention of it from his memoirs. Ultimately, the families of many Union soldiers were involved in preserving this battlefield.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. We like this as a hiking spot for a great view of Atlanta, the northern Blue Ridge Mountains and more. There’s also a good historical display at the visitor center.
Enjoyed the commentary and information, but the politics could have been left out. We all know the media leans left.
Excellent article! Very informative. Glad I found your website. Very important that people understand how Hitler stopped freedom of the press to keep citizens in the dark as to the atrocities he was committing. Keep up the good work!