Auschwitz and Birkenau — Beyond Road Signs

During my visit to Krakow, Poland I wanted to tour Auschwitz and Birkenau. I felt compelled to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, in order to remember and reinforce my awareness of the horror and inhumanity, the unfathomable capacity of humankind . . . lest we never forget. There are no words to describe the experience.

The crematorium.  Very grim.  It is a small one, the only surviving one.  The ones built specifically for mass extermination and disposal were demolished. — The crematorium. Very grim. It is a small one, the only surviving one. The ones built specifically for mass extermination and disposal were demolished.

Several people with our English-speaking guide could not complete the tour. Certainly, I learned of many more atrocities than I was aware. Unquestionably, the most startling for me was seeing and more fully understanding the scale and systemization of what was perpetrated. So very powerful, to me, these types of experiences on my trips are reminders of how very blessed I am as an American.

Apparently, some 2.1M of 2.3M people that arrived at Auschwitz were exterminated immediately. Able-bodied men who had a skill were put to work. You can see from the info on the photos, some of them still were dead within a matter of days of arrival.… — Apparently, some 2.1M of 2.3M people that arrived at Auschwitz were exterminated immediately. Able-bodied men who had a skill were put to work. You can see from the info on the photos, some of them still were dead within a matter of days of arrival. The photo also shows the degree of systemization and record-keeping.

Birkenau was extensive and built quickly, wood-framed buildings, more like livestock buildings or chicken coops. The photo shows the railroad siding. Apparently, the Nazis built rail lines into the camps to receive box cars 24 hours a day. The box c… — Birkenau was extensive and built quickly, wood-framed buildings, more like livestock buildings or chicken coops. The photo shows the railroad siding. Apparently, the Nazis built rail lines into the camps to receive box cars 24 hours a day. The box cars were jammed with 600 people, many not surviving the journeys from throughout Europe.

The shortness of my time in this region is regrettable. I wish I could have allowed more. The Wieliczka salt mines, which are supposed to be spectacular, and Schindler’s Factory, are a couple places I wish I had at least one more day to visit.

If you go to Krakow, (read about that experience by c licking here) an Auschwitz visit involves a 1 1/2 hour bus ride each way, and requires booking in advance for a time and language-specific guide. You can not just wander around Auschwitz. A guide is necessary for learning or understanding the details of its history.