Auschwitz Concentration Camp Entrance – Auschwitz, Poland
Auschwitz was a series of concentration and extermination camps built in Nazi-occupied Poland during the Second World War. It was the largest of the German concentration camps, consisting of Auschwitz I (the base camp), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the extermination camp), and Auschwitz III-Monowitz (a labor camp)
The camps were located approximately 37 miles west of Krakow in what is known today as Auschwitz. Auschwitz is the German name for Oświęcim, the town in which the camps were located; the Germans renamed it after they invaded Poland in September 1939.
Auschwitz II-Birkenau was the biggest and darkest of the Auschwitz camps. Being a death camp, it was supposed to be the “final solution of the Jewish question in Europe”. From spring 1942 until the fall of 1944, transport trains delivered Jews to the camp’s gas chambers from all over Nazi-occupied Europe. Not only Jews were transported there; Poles, prisoners of war, homosexuals, and others, were too part of the extermination. An estimated 1.3 million victims arrived at Auschwitz between June 1940 and January 1945 and 1.1 million of them died there, including over 900,000 Jews. Those not killed in the gas chambers died of starvation, forced labor, lack of disease control, individual executions, and medical experiments.
Arbeit macht frei are the words that still crown the iron gates at the entrance of Auschwitz I (pictured above). It means “work will set you free”. It was supposed to have a psychological effect on the camp victims.
On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops, a day commemorated around the world as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In 1947, Poland founded a museum on the site of Auschwitz I and II.
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Is that one of your shot? That B&W photo is so dramatic, feels moody. I saw another travel bloger who went there and shot a video of this camp and it make me feel sad thinking about the history. Interesting post.
Yes, I took this picture. It was originally taken in color with my DSLR but this one deserved some B&W, it goes well with the environment of the place.
The place itself is moody and gloomy, but the day I went felt even more gloomy with the rainy weather. There is so much happening there that makes you feel sad and makes you think about yourself as a person and about the good and bad in this world.
Yea, I bet raining made it even more moody. Did you see the exhibit of woman’s hair? I saw it from the blogger’s video. They have a case of these poor woman’s hair after they gassed. It was so sad for me to think about what kind of pain they went through.
Oh yes, actually that part felt like a punch in the stomach. Seeing all that hair collected (in addition to personal items) shows you the whole extent of the atrocities made during the holocaust and how far the Nazis took it. That hair was collected to be sold and make a profit from it. Can you believe it? Wow!
I know, it was unbelievable for what they did to them in the past. Did you took any pictures from it? Even though it’s so sad, but I still want to see the museum if I had a chance
Technically, it is prohibited to take pictures on the interior spaces of Auschwitz (so your friend was pretty lucky to take that video), but still, I got a couple interior shots that I can put together in another post. But, specifically of the human hair, no… didn’t have the chance… plus I was so shocked when I saw it that I just stood there looking at it with so many mixed emotions.
If you have the chance, you should visit it. It is very strong emotionally, but it’s a good look back and reflection of one of the darkest points in human history.
Oh yea, I know many places are like that. When I was in Boston, I couldn’t take pictures in many historic building inside, but I brought post card so I can scan in and say this is what it looks like inside haha. And i agreed it is the darkest points in human history with you. Anyways, here are the pictures & video form Ryan & Liz. Not sure if you know them form Twitter. Check it out at http://www.pausethemoment.com/2010/08/21/auschwitz-birkenau-concentration-camp/ and http://www.pausethemoment.com/2010/08/21/top-10-photos-from-auschwitz-birkenau/
Oh yes, I like PTM. I do follow.
I love their pictures and videos. They do a great job with their blog.
Wow what an ominous, but appropriate photo for Auschwitz. Nice capture.
Thanks. It is inevitable to escape the somber character Auschwitz has. And the irony behind the meaning of that sign says it all.
One of the most sobering and meaningful places I have ever been. Can’t say that anyone really enjoys a trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau but they definitely never forget it.
That’s true Jeremy. Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a place you truly enjoy, but it leaves a deep and meaningful mark on you when you visit it. I makes you ponder on the power of human beings and the meaning of being human.