Krakow - Auschwitz and Birkenau

Located in Poland near the city of Krakow, these two Nazi concentration camps, also known as Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II, were the scene of one of Hitler’s worst crimes in World War II.  Here over one million men, women, and children lost their lives.

Auschwitz was actually a network of concentration camps consisting of Auschwitz I (the base camp), Auschwitz II or Birkenau (an extermination camp), Auschwitz III or Buna-Monowitz (a labor camp), and 45 satellite camps.

From early 1942 to late 1944, transport trains delivered Jews to Birkenau’s gas chambers from all over Nazi-occupied Europe.  Although Jews were not the only ones imprisoned here, around 90 percent of those who died were of Jewish descent.  On 27 January 1945, the Soviets liberated the Auschwitz camps.

Prisoners entered the camp through iron gates topped with the infamous motto “Arbeit macht frei” (Work makes free) believing they were entering a labor camp.  But in addition to hard labor, prisoners were subjected to inhumane medical experiments and death.

This site from AwesomeStories.com, Auschwitz: Place of Horrors, tells the story using primary source photos and documents.

Today, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum stands as a testament to those who lost their lives in one of history’s worst atrocities.  It consists of the extensive grounds and original camp blocks, barracks and guard towers, in addition to exhibits of personal possessions belonging to the millions who were brought here.

Also on exhibit are items depicting the life of prisoners while in the camp, as well as SS items belonging to the perpetrators left behind in the camp after liberation.

The museum’s collection of art associated with Auschwitz-Birkenau is the largest of its kind in the world.  These works made by the prisoners show the emotional stress endured by those prisoners every day and gives us an insight into what life must have been like for those who endured the hardships.

Some of the art was “commissioned” by camp officials, while much of the art was made secretly by the prisoners upon threat of harsh punishment if caught.  The Lagermuseum was a “special” museum that exhibited the plunder from the people deported to the camps.  In addition, there are many postwar art pieces created by former prisoners.

To view some historical photos and documents housed in the museum’s archives, click here.  Each icon is a sub-category.  Click on each sub-category for a full viewing.

Romanian-born Jewish American Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner, wrote a book called Night about his experiences in Auschwitz.  I have read it and it is truly thought provoking.  It will give depth and meaning to your visit if read before our departure.

This special documentary, “Oprah and Elie Wiesel at Auschwitz Part 1,” (9:59) gives you an idea of the camp from the perspective of a man who truly lived the experience.  This “Video Tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau” (14:49) will show you the camps. (Word of warning: some graphic images at the beginning.)

The 1993 movie Schindler’s List starring Liam Neeson depicts a Nazi German businessman who helped save thousands of Polish-Jews near Krakow by employing them in his factory.

A visit to the Auschwitz site is a very sobering experience meant to remind us that we must learn from history.  As philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”