Krakow + Antwerp Trip Day 3 (21 Apr 08) (Part 1)
>> Friday, December 19, 2008
We woke up early in the morning to go to Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Oświęcim. We walked to the bus station to take a bus there.
Passing by the shopping center
At the bus stationWe paid about 22 zl for the return bus trip to Auschwitz concentration camp and the ride took slightly over an hour.
Walking into the concentration camp
Group photo with some friends that we communicated with on the bus
Before the tour of the site of major massacre of human lives
The map of Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration campsWe joined the guided tour as we feel that it would be much more enriching to have a guide lead us and tell us about the history and the atrocities committed in Auschwitz Birkenau camps.
A brief history of the concentration camp is as follows. All over the world, Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim which, like other parts of Poland, was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War. The name of the city of Oswiecim was changed to Auschwitz, which became the name of the camp as well. Over the following years, the camp was expanded and consisted of three main parts: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. It also had over 40 sub-camps. At first, Poles were imprisoned and died in the camp. Afterwards, Soviet prisoners of war, Gypsies, and prisoners of other nationalities were also incarcerated there. Beginning in 1942, the camp became the site of the greatest mass murder in the history of humanity, which was committed against the European Jews as part of Hitler's plan for the complete destruction of that people. The majority of the Jewish men, women and children deported to Auschwitz were sent to their deaths in the Birkenau gas chambers immediately after arrival. At the end of the war, in an effort to remove the traces of the crimes they had committed, the SS began dismantling and razing the gas chambers, crematoria, and other buildings, as well as burning documents. Extracted from Auschwitz Official Site.
A brief history of the concentration camp is as follows. All over the world, Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim which, like other parts of Poland, was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War. The name of the city of Oswiecim was changed to Auschwitz, which became the name of the camp as well. Over the following years, the camp was expanded and consisted of three main parts: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. It also had over 40 sub-camps. At first, Poles were imprisoned and died in the camp. Afterwards, Soviet prisoners of war, Gypsies, and prisoners of other nationalities were also incarcerated there. Beginning in 1942, the camp became the site of the greatest mass murder in the history of humanity, which was committed against the European Jews as part of Hitler's plan for the complete destruction of that people. The majority of the Jewish men, women and children deported to Auschwitz were sent to their deaths in the Birkenau gas chambers immediately after arrival. At the end of the war, in an effort to remove the traces of the crimes they had committed, the SS began dismantling and razing the gas chambers, crematoria, and other buildings, as well as burning documents. Extracted from Auschwitz Official Site.
With our guided tour group
Prior to entering the camp, some rules were meted out which includes no photography inside the camp grounds (which i conveniently ignored), and no laughing or anything disrespectful as many people had perished on the grounds (this rule i did not break of course)
Our informative tour guide
Entering the infamous Auschwitz camp entrance with the sign "Arbeit Macht Frei" (in English means Work Brings Freedom)Work did not bring the Jews in the concentration camps freedom as many of them faced death.
The old houses that kept the Jews
Walking to each building which was converted to museums
Such a tranquil environment that belies its tragic and violent past
Signboard
The mass deportation of Jews from many European countries to Auschwitz
Jews were deported to Auschwitz as it was a central location in Europe
They arrived in trains and were rounded up immediately and all their luggage were seized
The cans containing Cyclone B used for killing in gas chambers
Exploitation of the corpses, the Nazis cut off the hair from the bodies
To make haircloth and nets
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