Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau

The history of Auschwitz, and what to expect when visiting

Nov 4, 2009

Traveling to the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau is an experience unlike any other. Going in prepared can help a visitor get the most out of the experience.

Auschwitz and Birkenau are two concentration camps in southern Poland built in German-occupied Poland during World War II in the small town of Oswiecim. Tragically, one of the reasons they are so well-known is because of comparatively high survival rates. While the two camps were brutal, more survivors emerged from them than from many other camps.

What are the Differences Between Auschwitz and Birkenau?

While the two camps are often named together--another name for Birkenau is Auschwitz II--they are decidedly different in their original purpose and their appearance.

Auschwitz I

Auschwitz I, better known simply as Auschwitz, is the German form of the Polish word Oswiecim, the name of the city Auschwitz and Birkenau, as well as a third camp called Monowitz, are located. It is a smaller camp with buildings predating the camp itself, which were small barracks used by the Austrian troops.

An important fact to note is that Auschwitz I was not built for the housing of Jews, nor was it ever used for that particular purpose. Instead, it was used primarily for the housing of Polish intelligentsia and some Russian prisoners. Because the camp is built in the center of town, the roads are all paved, albeit very poorly. There is very little green grass or life in the camp.

Auschwitz II: Birkenau

Auschwitz II or Birkenau is perhaps more easily recognized than Auschwitz I. The long train track entering the center of the camp, the large and shoddy barracks used to house the Jews, and the gas showers were primarily located in Birkenau. Birkenau is substantially bigger than Auschwitz I, and measures about one kilometer from side to side.

Most of the buildings have now been destroyed due to the Nazis burning down the barracks as they were abandoning it to the incoming Allied forces. However, the foundations of the crematoriums still stand, and the building which housed the large gas chambers is still standing. The children’s barrack still stands, and so does one of the bathroom buildings.

Things to Know When Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau

An important fact to note when visiting is that these camps were not built by the Polish, nor considered to have been built on legitimate Polish soil. The camps were built when Germany occupied that region of Poland. It is highly offensive while there to suggest that the Poles were willingly involved in building the camps.

Another thing to be aware of is the sense of possession over the camps. There has been great public outcry in the past from Poles who felt that Jewish suffering in Birkenau has hidden the fact that many Poles died in the camps as well. This has left a lasting tension that can be sensed when speaking to native Poles about the camps.

Among some of the more haunting sights in Auschwitz are the collections of personal effects gathered in the camps. These are placed behind glass, but they pile up to the ceiling of the room. Luggage can also be seen in some of the exhibits. Photography is discouraged inside the exhibits, but photos can be taken outside.

The Auschwitz crematorium is also open for viewing, but pictures are politely forbidden out of respect of the deceased. However, many people do take photos inside, but the photo cannot fully express how heart-wrenching it is to see.

Birkenau is a wholly different experience. The size of the camp, combined with the fact it is much farther out of town, meant that it remained unpaved during the war, and is now full of green grass and trees. The landscape of Birkenau looks more like a park than a concentration camp, but inside the buildings and around the ruins of Birkenau, the memory of the camp is very present.

Keep in mind the differences between the two camps, as they are drastically different environments. Birkenau has a few small exhibits, while Auschwitz is more like a museum. Auschwitz has many exhibits worth seeing in the former barracks that are now sponsored by various nations, and many are both graphic and moving.

The copyright of the article Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland Travel is owned by Frank Yeats. Permission to republish Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.