Auschwitz and Birkenau

"Millions of people all over the world know what was Auschwitz, but still the basic case is in consciousness and memory of people, that only on their decision depends if such tragedy happens once again. Only people could caused it and only people are able not to let it happen again". The former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs. The former prisoner of Auschwitz.

The History

Belief of pre-dominance of Aryan race led to create Nazi ideology, which aim was to exterminate other countries. Outbreak of war Nazi started to build concentration camps on the occupied land and they were to exterminate "unwanted" people. Auschwitz and Birkenau camp and its satellite under-camps were one of the biggest concentration camps.

It was built on this place, because it fulfilled greatly, functions of base - it was located in the centre of occupied land so that it was near everywhere. In the town Oswiecim there was a railway communication junction what made easier to "deliver" the arrested people continuously.

The first transport of prisoners came to Auschwitz from prison from Tarnow on 14th June in 1940 and this date is considered to be the beginning of camp existence. Since 1942- it was becoming gradually-the centre of mass Jews extermination. Auschwitz became the world symbol of holocaust, genocide and terror.

What You Can See

Lands and objects of both camps: Auschwitz and Birkenau which are available for tourists. The length of stay depends on individual interests and needs of tourists, but as a minimum you have to assign for getting to know with area and exposition, at least 3 hours.

On the land of Auschwitz camp, Nazi made the first camp for men and women, here first experiments of death took place by using cyclone B. Here the first mass Jews extermination took place, here the first criminal experiments in prisons were led, here were most of executing by firing squad, here the central camp prison was located-in block number 11 for prisoners from all parts of camp complex and here also was the main command of the camp and most of Nazi offices. From this place Nazi authorities governed how to expand the camp.

In camp Birkenau everything took place with multiple scale, where Nazi built most of mechanisms of mass extermination so called. Red Home, White Home, where about million of Jews were murdered. Birkenau was, at the same time, the biggest concentration camp, where were more than 100 thousands of prisoners. Hugeness of the land, primitive prison barracks, ruins of other objects, kilometres of camp fence and roads shows something what cannot be expressed with words, what must be seen and everything subjected to one aim-extermination of people…

Museum Opening Hours

Closed on 1st January, 25th December, and Easter Sunday.