Last May, I visited beautiful Krakow.
During that stay, I realised that Krakow it's a great destination, similar to any other European capital - a realisation that came as a surprise to me, so I made a list of 17 fantastic things to do while visiting Krakow. There, at number 7, you will find a suggested visit to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
During that stay, I realised that Krakow it's a great destination, similar to any other European capital - a realisation that came as a surprise to me, so I made a list of 17 fantastic things to do while visiting Krakow. There, at number 7, you will find a suggested visit to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
The reason why I proposed such a visit was because of the extremely intense experience of walking around in the Camp - Through this post I will try to describe you the overwhelming feeling of horror I experienced as vivdly as possible. I'm not going to express political opinions and views nor do a historical analysis of World War II and the horrific actions concerning the war. I'll leave that to the experts and your personal opinion - it's a personal choice how we analyze historical events and their results afterall.
This article is more like a representation of the Camp and the events that took place within that area during that certain period, as well as the eternal mark of shame they left behind.
The Auschwitz Camps.
The three main Nazi camps were the Auschwitz I - the original camp and administrative center - Auschwitz II - Birkenau which was an extermination camp (I have a separate post about it) and Auschwitz III - Monowitz - a labor camp which I didn't have the chance to visit.
They are located near the town of Auschwitz, one and a half hour outside Krakow (60 km). They have been declared Unesco World Heritage Sites since 1979.
A few facts about the Camps: Auschwitz was the largest concentration camp of Nazi Germany where 1.100.000 people lost their lives during the period between 1940-1945. Most of the victims passed away upon their arrival while others died due to the extremely horrible conditions, undernourishment, horrific experiments and extensive abuse. 90% of the victims were Jewish and the main cause of death the Zyklon B gas.
This article is about Auschwitz I.
Our tour began with us passing a replica of the original "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign at the entrance of the Camp - a misdirecting sign prisoners first saw when they came here. The original sign was stolen at 2009 and this was a copy. A double line of wire live with electricity was enough to get a first taste of what was going to follow.
Entering the camp.
The replica of the original "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign at the entrance of the Camp.
Work makes you free, in english.
The electrical wires around the camp.
Walking around the blocks.
Block 4 - The Museum
Block 4 hosts the oldest exhibtion, today's Auschwitz Museum, hosting everything from photographs back from the days of concentrations, Camp maps, "open" Zyklon B's behind glass. Apart from these, in this Block you'll find the Hair Exhibition which is strictly prohibited to be photographed. Tons of hair from those executed with gas which was afterwards used to create matresses or jumpers.
One of the most shocking things I've ever seen.
The railway map.
The Road of Death
The arrival at the camps.
The Getto of Thessaloniki (my hometown).
Opened and used Zyklon B.
Block 5 - Material Evidence of Crime
They all arrived to these camps, after leaving their country in hope for a better life, so it was only natural they traveled with their suitcases filled with personal items. These items were collected by the Nazis in a building called 'Canada' (they thought of Canada as the country of plenty goods!) and afterwards, they were sent back to Germany. Some of these however, remained in Block 5 where they are being exhibited to the visitors.
Block 5 is characterized as the Material Evidence of Crime. It is a representation of so many unjustly lost lives. Awful images to watch causing feelings of pain and pure horror: glasses, artificial members, combs shoes, dolls, suitcases - all their kitchen equipments shows the kind of deceipt these people went through as they thought they carried them to their new homes.
Block 6 - Prisoner's Everyday Life
In this Block you'll encounter images of the everyday life of the prisoners: their beds, toilets and a photographic representation of the victims. Empty rooms with sacks on the floor as beds and mass toilets, give you a pretty clear idea of the unbearable life conditions.
On the contrary, there are the Master's Rooms - the rooms of the heads of the block - the difference between these two types of rooms is distinctive.
Block 10 - The Experiments
Block 10 isn't open for visitors - and it's for the best, in my opinion. All the horrific science experiments of the Nazis took place here - doctors' Clauberg and Schumman experiments to be exact. Men, women and even children participated in these terrible experiments of skin anomalies or sterilization in order to feed the doctor's curiosity about the human body.
I've read everything concerning the story of this Block and its head doctor - Josef Mengel or the Angel of Death. He conducted several experiments concerning race anomalies, genetic behaviour, molecular biology and eugenics - the idea of selective breeding the Nazis believed in. He was the one to choose between the right and left line of prisoners at the Auschwitz dock. Those on the left ended up in the crematorium (70-80% of the people) while those on the right became his new guinea pigs.
His biggest obsession were twins - these experiments were what his was mostly famous about.
Block 11 - The Death Block
The Death Block was where all the experiments were conducted as well as all the exterminations with Zyklon B. Apart from that, Block 11 was a torture site. It is located right next to Block 10 and together the are the most horrific part of the Camp.
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The Crematorium
In Auschwitz I there was one crematorium while in Auschwitz II there were four.
It has been said that in this Camp's crematorium 340 bodies were burned every 24 hours. Our guide informed us that the crematoriums worked non-stop from 1940 to 1945, 24 hours a day - they even placed two bodies in the crematorium to save time. After the first selection at the prisoners' arrival, they lead them to the crematorium where they were killed by Zyklon B and burned.
A few things to know before visiting Auschwitz:
• Organise a tour with a guide - there is an amazing amount of information a guide can offer you concerning the camps.
• Read a few things before your visit or watch a documentary related to Auschwitz. If you plan a guided tour, then you might have the chance to watch a documentary on your way there, like I did.
• Don't carry large handbags or suitcases with you, as they're both prohibited and they'll delay your entrance to the Camp.
• Do not take photographs in all the prohibited areas - like the section with hair.
• Dedicate a whole day to your visit - you'll definitely need 6-8 hours to complete the tour.
• Keep snacks with you - although there's a small shop in Auschwitz I in case you need something.
• Wear comfortable shoes - sneakers preferably - as there is a lot of walking around.
• Avoid visiting on weekends as it is extremely crowded.
• If you do not speak any foreign languages, then ask for a guide that speaks your mother tongue. There is a great deal of valuable information a guide will offer you - too much to lose.
• Winters in Poland are extremely cold and there is no heating in any of the Blocks. Choose to organise your visit during warmer periods of the year - although I believe that the cold winter days put you in the mood of the horrible conditions millions of innocents suffered in the Camp.
• Do not take a selfie (!) in the Camp, please.
Everything we experience and see while traveling is a part of our world's history. As sad as you found this article, you should know that it taught me a lot. I read, informed and experienced in the most tense way all the historical moments that took place in the Camp during World War II - and this is how I came to create a rather personal opinion about these facts.
Read here about Auschwitz II -Birkenau, the extermination camp.
"The one who does not remember history is bound to live throught it again"
George Santayana
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