Would you visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp?
Written by Amanda KendleWhen I mentioned the Dachau Concentration Camp in southern Germany as a place to visit a few weeks back, some readers were surprised at the idea of visiting such a place while on holiday. And I can understand that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the chance to understand important parts of history better is one reason I really love travelling, especially in Europe where there are so many historical sights.
That’s why I thought I’d mention the even more distressing possibility of visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp sites in southern Poland. Auschwitz is perhaps the most well-known concentration camp – even if you slept through history lessons at school, you’ll know it from Schindler’s List – and it’s the kind of tourist attraction you’ll never forget. But be warned: you will see a lot of things you wish you hadn’t. I admit to having nightmares after my visit to Auschwitz. But ever since, when I see documentaries or read books about World War II, I certainly feel like I can understand the atrocities of the time a whole lot better.
The official site for the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum has an English version with a lot of detail on what’s there and how to visit it, and is definitely worth checking out to plan a trip. Most people arrive here on a day trip from the (contrastingly beautiful) city of Krakow. I’m definitely an advocate of visiting places like this – but I’m curious about other opinions, so leave a comment if you agree or even disagree.
Amanda – not sure if I’d visit. I studied WW2 at school and have seen quite a few documentaries about concentration camps but not sure I’d visit a concentration camp as I felt bad enough when I walked around the Jewish Memorial in Berlin.
I would absolutly visit the camp. I was fortunate to live in Germany for 3 years while my husband served in the U.S. Army. During that time, I visited as many places as our budget would allow. The history there is like no other. I loved it and hope to take my daughter back there to visit some day, now that she is older. I did make it to Poland, but just for a wives shopping trip. Now that I’m a little older, I would make a point to visit the camp.
I visited Auschwitz in 1979 before the Iron Curtain fell. It was a very moving experience. I feel strongly that if a person has the opportunity, they should make a point of visiting these camps. It is so important that people remember what has happened in these places.
I visited Auschwitz in 2005. It is an easy day trips distance from Krakow and I would recommend the visit. It certainly makes you appreciate how good life is now. It is incredible to think that this happened so recently.
Dear Amanda,
I have visited Dachau, Bergen-Belson, Buchenwald, Mauthausen and other camps. I have spoken to German soldiers, townspeople near the camps as well as two prisoners – one from Dachau and another from Mauthausen.
I have also spoken with a number of German citizens who were old enough to recall the war or participate in it. Some of these folks I now number as being among my list of friends.
I think my wife said it best when she said that she didn’t enjoy visiting these places, but felt it was important to do so – so important that we took our teenage daughters to Dachau.
I came across your blog when I was doing some searching on making arrangements to visit Auschwitz, which I hope to do this June.
If you have the chance, you may also want to visit Nuremberg where the Nazi Party conventions were held. On the SE side of the city is the Zeplin stadium where some of those old, but often shown on TV mass gatherings were held. If you study pictures taken in Nuremberg during those conventions in the Thirties, you can figure out where they were taken in modern Nuremberg.
As you can imagine, these are not exactly the sort of things modern Germany is promoting as tourist attractions … but I think they are all important to see. It makes it all real in a way that a photo or film clip cannot.
I believe visiting these places provide a learning experience that is hard to find an equal to.
I strongly encourage you to go.
I visited Dachau some years ago though I’ve not been to Poland and met a survivor in Australia whom I spoke to for around an hour – fascinating. Dachau was one of the most moving places I’ve been presented starkly but with dignity for those who suffered its ravishes. I struggled for some days after visiting and can still clearly picture some images that have stayed with me for life. It is a reminder that the world must fight with all its might against repression that still continues in a number of countries today.
I am 45 and it was not until 15 years ago I discovered I was from a strong jewish back ground ( my mother became pregant at 14 and I was adopted) I have always, even before I knew I was from a jewish family had this over powering sense of belonging.
Tonight I have seen clips from the bad days with no warnings of the awful things which they are going to screen; dead starved naked bodies piled ontop of each other. Tonight is the first time I have asked my husband to accompany me to Poland or further afield, as there are so many killing camps. I am not sure he is equiped to cope, he is a simple uncomplicated professional man, wish me luck
Kay – thanks for your comment, it sounds as though you are going through a very difficult emotional time. Only you can judge what is the best way to work through this.
I plan to visit Poland around mid November and will have 3 full days to put in. I will most definately be visiting Auschwitz and was wondering if it was adviseable to pre book a tour before I leave Australia. Also, for the remaining two days are there any suggestions as to what could be recommended for one to do and see. Never having been out of a warm climate, could I also ask just how cold Poland can be in November. Is it likely to be snowing.
Many Thanks
Wayne
I went to Auschwitz in 2004. It’s an extraordinary place – I’m surprised (and, frankly, a bit taken aback) that anyone would even question whether to visit. Of course you should go. Everybody should. What the heck is travel for: sitting in ever-so-nice Krakow drinking coffee and thinking how beautiful life is?
Visit Auschwitz and take it away with you, so that you’ve got it there ready, in the front of your mind, when you step into the voting booth on polling day.
Matthew – I agree with you but I do believe that a fair proportion of visitors to Poland would prefer the “sitting in ever-so-nice Krakow drinking coffee and thinking how beautiful life is” option. Partly because they perceive travel as a chance to relax and de-stress from their hectic daily lives as opposed to putting themselves through the deeply disturbing experience of visiting a concentration camp.
A visit to Auschwitz is not something you will ever forget. I wouldn’t recommend it strongly to anyone – it’s a matter of personal choice and how you feel you will react to seeing the site of such a horrific period of history. Many feel the need to see this place to understand at first hand where and how these atrocities were committed. Others are happy to learn about these via the many movies that have been made on the topic, and that’s fine.
I have been and found the experience depressing and sobering. At the same time I’m glad I visited, as it is the site of one of the most infamous episodes of inhumanity of the last 100 years and it was important for me to learn more about this by seeing the exhibitions and seeing the grim evidence of the crimes that were committed there.
Andy – Thanks for expressing your sentiments about visiting Auschwitz. I think it is a personal decision. One has to acknowledge that everyone has there own agenda when travelling.
It’s an interesting question whether one can take on board these awful events through reading or watching documentaries or films, without actually visiting a concentration camp.
Thanks, Karen – and I can see you’re playing devil’s advocate, so I feel vindicated in rising to the bait. “Relaxing and de-stressing from a hectic daily life” need not involve blithering pig-ignorance about either your chosen destination or the rest of life, which continues apace outside your ever-so-meaningful bubble.
Everybody’s life is hectic. Diddums. If you need to relax and de-stress so much that you deliberately set out to avoid experiences, go and lie on a beach in Lanzarote, or take one of those much-touted “staycations” and pull the duvet over your head for a week. Meanwhile, there’s a world to explore.
As a side note, I have visited Krakow several times since my visit to Auschwitz, and it’s interesting to hear the views of local taxi drivers and tourist businesses, many of whom view the nearby concentration camp with a different and jaded perspective. Whilst most recognise that a visit to Auschwitz is the primary reason for many to visit their city, many are fed up of being so inextricably linked with the camp and wish people would visit Krakow and the SE of Poland for the many “positive” attractions they have.
Insensitive, inevitable or a sign of times moving on? I remember speaking to a resident in Oswecim while we were visiting, and their emotions on this topic were stronger still.
I visited one of the work camps while travelling through Europe a number of years ago. I was completely speechless walking through the camp. There was an educational video to watch, which was a good thing for me as it gave me time to compose myself. What completely blew me away was there were a couple of girls who ran out in shock as they had NEVER see any of the holocaust footage. Talking as someone who had family who died in the camps, who grew up watching anything holocaust related when it came on TV, I’m somewhat dumbstruck that this is even possible. So yes, I think the opportunity to visit the camps is educational and honors the victims and their families by remembering. “Moving on” by not remembering is only a way for the atrocities to occur again.
Matthew – I think you are being rather harsh.
Andy – I can see the point of view of the residents of SE Poland who don’t want the area to be known only for the horrors of Auschwitz. I don’t think that necessarily means that they want to obliterate its existence.
Kanga_Rue – It is incredible that a young person would know so little about the Holocaust. Is there a balance to be found between remembrance and moving on?
I visited last summer as part of a trip around Poland and Ukraine. We are both into history and look for trips that allow us to further enrich our understanding and education as well as actually having a holiday from work.
I would strongly suggest to people to think of your motivation for going. I saw too many people that were either disinterested until we reached the gas chambers, when they suddenly became very animated and people who talked loudly and took photographs in prohibited places.
I’m not sure what you’d want a photo of you infront of one of the furnaces for amongst your holday snaps!
So, if you’ve a genuine interest, respect to pay, just want to learn more, contextualise what you read at school, go. But, if you just want to go so you can say I’ve been, then rethink and do some reading then think again. I think a visit could educate someone who knows little about the attrocities carried out there but, if you do go please show respect and try and actively think about what it is that you’re seeing.
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