In 2004 I went to Germany and Poland on a World War II history tour. This was the first of many stops we made. This is the house where the Wannsee Conference took place on January 20, 1942. But what’s so special about this house? This is where senior officials of Nazi Germany had meetings to construct and deploy their plans for the “Final answer to the Jewish question”. It was here where the idea of genocide was drafted, fine tuned and ultimately carried out during World War II.

During our short trip here, we were able to tour the grounds and tour the house. The inside of the house was like stepping into a history book – I don’t think it’s been touched since 1942. From the copper door handles to the rich wood paneling to the antique chandeliers. Once you pass through the house, you then notice the fantastic view of the lake it sits on.

While here, you couldn’t help but to think about how such sinister plans were constructed in such a beautiful and peaceful location on a cold January day.