Birkenau (Auschwitz II)
Buses leave Auschwitz I for Birkenau at a half past the hour, every hour. It costs two zloty and takes no more than five minutes. The experience of the camp is very different from Auschwitz I. For one thing it is much larger, covering over four hundred acres. It also retains the air of the place as it was when abandoned to a greater degree than the former camp. Some sixty seven buildings have survived virtually intact, and the interiors, with their stark wooden furnishings, take you right back to the war era. The other buildings remain as they were - some burnt to the ground and others massed up in heaps of rubble.
Background
Birkenau was created in 1941 as a satellite of the Auschwitz camp. The village of Brzezinka was evacuated for this purpose, and a handful of farm buildings were woven into the structure of the camp. This was even the case with the main gas chambers, which were located at the northern end of the site, where the railway tracks meet their end. Transits of prisoners were brought here from across Europe, and it was here that the 'Final Solution' was conducted at its most relentless level.
Inmates at Birkenau numbered around 100,000 at their peak. They were of many different nationalities, but the vast majority of those that entered the camp were unregistered Jews, many of whom were immediately sent to their deaths in the gas chambers. Women and children stood the least chance of survival, and many died even before arriving at Birkenau due to the appalling conditions of the railway journeys. The unloading platform, where the brisk selection process was conducted, remains. Apart from physically fit men (who often perished later from the rigours of the camp) it was often only an accident of birth that merited a possibility of survival. Large numbers of twins survived until liberation as they were objects of interest to the research of Dr. Josef Mengele - a man disliked even by his Nazi peers.
The Camp
The old gateway - familiar from the wartime photographs - still stands, complete with the watchtower above it. This is a good point from which to gain a sense of the sheer expanse of Birkenau.
As you walk about the camp it is not difficult to picture the squalor and anguish that victims had to endure. The living accommodation tended to be built like makeshift barns. There were no foundations, and little defense against the elements. Unsurprisingly, inmates were plagued by ill-health - the bitterness of the Polish winter must have been unbearable.
The crematoriums and gas chambers lie in ruins at the northern end of the camp. They were blown up by the SS during the last weeks before liberation. A guide will point out the remnants of each part of the apparatus. Behind these ruins are several memorials to the Holocaust and there are individual plaques in many languages.
Birkenau is a very large place and thus it is easy to miss a small portion of camp. In this respect it is well worth visiting the small exhibit located behind Canada - the storehouses where victims belongings were kept. The exhibition is to be found in what was known as the Sauna. Inmates were disinfected here, their hair cut, and they were stripped of their belongings. The exhibition is simple and moving. There is also a room devoted to specific families caught up in the tragedy. Smiling holiday photographs are in contradiction to the madness of what was in store.
|  I am visiting both Auschwitz and Birkenau in two weeks time. I am dreading it, as I find myself choked and horrified everytime I look at websites on here, or when watching films and documentaries about the Nazis and the holocaust. but I know I have to go to feel for myself the true true horror. Its a shame that the likes of Waldo didnt experience the concentration camps themselves....but then he is probably just a little kid doing his best to shock...he doesnt even have any idea of how many people were killed...laughable idiot. 
|
reviewed by Sue from United Kingdom on Nov.24.2011 |
| I haven't ever been to a concentration camp, but I just finished reading a book -a true story of a boy who survived Birkenau- called "Night" by Elie Wiesel. I read it for school and I really liked it. It was very upsetting, but it was still a good read. If you're interested in this sort of thing, I suggest reading it. |
reviewed by Emilie from United States on Nov.18.2011 |
| The Holocaust was a 20th Century atrocity caused by men and women who were driven by hatred, ignorance and greed, Auschwitz is a reminder of what can happen if we let for one moment the fanatics/extremists and some elected politicians tell us that our way of life is threatened, we have a duty to our children and theirs to show them what really happens when hatred and discrimination is used as a weapon against your fellow man, It is a crime in itself to even deny the holocaust, there are no words to describe the pity I feel for those who lack any emotion or lack the intelligent to absorb the truth, |
reviewed by LGreen from United Kingdom on Nov.03.2011 |
| Did visit this camp (for want of a better word) its a trip all should do. I brought a stone from the railway line inside the camp home with me to give to my children to take back when they visit. |
reviewed by Chris from Australia on Apr.28.2011 |
| I have never been to the death camps, but have done a lot of reading...how can anyone deny that these existed? Never let the neo nazis become a dominant force...RIP |
reviewed by Jayne from Australia on Jan.08.2011 |
| I visited in 1991 with a bus full of young people partying around Europe. When we got back on the bus - there was silence and sobbing for an hour or more as we drove off to our next destination. It is a traumatic experience seeing the depths of evil that mankind can descend to - every human should see this place and think twice about how you treat your fellow man. The sheer scale of the place is amazing -I am so lucky to live in a free multicultural country where racial discrimination is not tolerated and where we learn history about the rest of the world - not just our own. But nothing can prepare you for the horrors of this place - it makes you wonder how such hatred can infest the mind and you can then treat fellow humans - including children and babies - as less than animals like stamping on ants. Here I am writing about it 20 years later when out of interest I was browsing the subject on the internet and came across this site - and it saddens me that ignorant people who havent been there can make some of the disgusting comments that are on this page. |
reviewed by Wayne Bentley from Australia on Jul.25.2010 |
| I'm 15 years old, and visited Auschwitz and Auschwitz Birkenau about a month ago on a school trip. It was an incredibly moving experience, and something I think everyone should visit at least once i their life. I know for sure that one day I will take my children and even grandchildren, as it is just so important for future generations to learn as much as they can about what happened so that we can be sure it will never, ever happen again. |
reviewed by Emma from United Kingdom on Jul.08.2010 |
| IT IS VERY SAD WHEN YOU VISIT THE CAMPS AUSCHWITZ I & II PERSONALLY AND THEN READ ABOUT IT AND SEE MOVIES NOT BORN DURING THAT PERIOD, STILL IT IS ONE OF THE CRUELIST THINGS OF HUMANITY. WOULD LOVE TO VISIT IT ONCE MORE-HOPE SO. |
reviewed by NORMA ANN PINTO from India on May.21.2010 |
| i've been doing about the holocaust at school and we have been given a project to do on auschwitz and im going to visit there next easter, i cried at all the films and i am dreading what im going to be like when i visit the camp. the thought of all that happening makes me really annoyed, and what hitler done to them poor jews and the other minority groups was a terrible terrible thing but im so interested and just want to know more and more! |
reviewed by kit from United Kingdom on May.19.2010 |
| Not only was it horific for the Jews, 6,000,000, plus all the other "undesirables" 3-4 million, but, few know that Russian, US, French, Britian POWS also faced the horrors of the death camps. They are actually called the forgotton victims. |
reviewed by Ret Navy from United States on Apr.23.2010 |
| I visited Birkenau a few days ago
Well....its horrible place....but not like in movies...i think they should make this camp's more terrible.....coz some people dont believe that it was a place for mass executions
And if u wanna visit Birkenau....go there in winter.....coz in summer it look just like old prison
So strange to hear from people that they hate Jewish (but they never met Jewish)
What about me....i was stressed after these both camps (Birkenau I and II)....dont think i will ever go there again (but for 1 time everybody must visit it)........
P.S. Its really awful when smb take pictures with themselfs in such a place ..... |
reviewed by Julia from Russia on Feb.25.2010 |
| i am going to poland in march and intending to visit auschwitz as it has always been of inerest to me is there a bus direct to birkenau from krakow and what number does anybody know? |
reviewed by diane from United Kingdom on Feb.02.2010 |
| I had a dream last week that I was on a street in a small village in Poland. I've never been to Europe, much less Poland. But in the dream I recognized the street and thought "I'm in Poland!". Then I turned around and saw a distant fortress-like building with a big gate and a "watchtower" right over it. When I remembered the dream upon awaking I Googled "Death Camps" and sure enough there was the "fortress" EXACTLY as I dreamed it. It was Birkenau! I'm not even Jewish. I'm 61. Did have a strange fascination with The Holocaust as a child. I researched a lot of old photos online and found prisoner faces that closely resemble friends. Even found a face that looks a lot like I do now. I've never liked Nazis either. |
reviewed by jojo from United States on Jan.30.2010 |
| a party of us are visiting kracow in may i will definitly be on a trip to see the true horrors the jewish community suffered at auswitz god bless them all |
reviewed by martin from United Kingdom on Jan.22.2010 |
| been researching holocaust this evening after watching the pianist which really made me cry. after reading all the comments on here, i now want to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau to pay my respects |
reviewed by sallie from United Kingdom on Jan.16.2010 |
| I have been to Dachau and Auschwitz and as sad as it is to see the movies and books, it is a much sadder reality to see these attrocities up close. Anyone who does not believe that this unhuman behaviour(idiot guy from last post!) took place should take a closer look at their education and spoiled life today in comparison to how it was back then to fear your life every day. It wasn't just jews and religion shouldn't have mattered,but it did. It was human beings been murdered out of pure blind hatred and ignorance. |
reviewed by Gigi from United States on Jan.06.2010 |
| We visited in 1996. So sad. I wanted to take a small stone as a reminder of what happened but felt even that would be disrespectful. |
reviewed by L. Stanislawski from United States on Nov.29.2009 |
| To visit Auschwitz- Birkenau is a must. Everything is so good preserve and it learns you about the horris that hapeend to the poor people , woman and the small children. The blocks that shows you the glasses , hair and suitcases let you image how the people arrived there unknown what hell they are going to meet. Please visit these camps and tell all your friends to visit. we must learn so it will never happend again. I am takeing my brother and his family the November 2009. Been there 3 times already with different people. Since I visit auschwitz-Birkenau, Mathausen 9Austria)and Dachau (Germany), I cry each day thinking about the poor innocent people. |
reviewed by Clara Pienaar from South Africa on Nov.14.2009 |
| Thinking about all the jews and other people who died during World War 2 makes me realy sad. |
reviewed by Random guy from Canada on Nov.12.2009 |
| Hi, I am travelling to Poland - Krakow on the 11th of november and thought of visiting Auschwitz Birkenau......But i am a little confused.....I can see from satelite photos the site of one of the concentration camps, but i know there are 3 but i only want to go visit Auschwitz Birkenau. Can someone please explain which one is which and if the Museaum is in fact one of the camps???
Many thanks in Advance
Matt
|
reviewed by Matt E from United Kingdom on Nov.07.2009 |
| I have visited Poland but wasn't possible to visit the camp, I thought this page great because I know this history about 2nd WW, of course there are more details to add at this issue but it is enough to know about the humiliation with human being at that time. |
reviewed by Manoel from Brazil on Oct.22.2009 |
| Betsy ten Boom died at Birkenau, but her life continues to give life to many, both survivors and we who learn of her. |
reviewed by Ruth Moore from United States on Oct.16.2009 |
| screw u waldo.i think nazis r the worst.y would any1 do that extermanaiton of jews-and-other-ppl-thing?this page dnt give much in4mation.plz add more facts person who made dis website. |
reviewed by lucky birdy from United States on Sep.27.2009 |
| We went to both Auschwitz and Birkenau, and for some reason found Birkenau much more affecting. Maybe it's the big open spaces. You can really imagine how it must have been. |
reviewed by Joan and Martin from United States on Jul.31.2009 |
| This was good. I'm doing a reasearch report on all the places Dr. Mengele worked the top picture was very helpful to get an idea of what the place looked like.
For all the people in the comments who cant spend the time to correctly spell out the words 'people' and 'you'. either take a typing class or don't write comments at all, its a disgrace. |
reviewed by Luckie from United States on Jun.04.2009 |
| Ya know i believe this sort of thing couldn't happen in the United States... Except the fact that everyone has a gun there are enough ppl to say, 'whoa this isn't right we need to stop this'. We just watched schindler's list last week in school and then discused it, we talked about how the nazis believed they could erase history, but there is always someone that will know what happened and we will always remember what happened, we will not forget and will not let it happen again. |
reviewed by Fritzy from United States on Apr.20.2009 |
| I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau last week. I am from the Southern States in the U.S. Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau was the most moving experience I have ever had. A week after visiting, I still have periods of tears - that, I am glad for. My prayers and best thoughts for the victims/survivors. |
reviewed by Will from United States on Apr.08.2009 |
| we are going to Auschwitz Birkenau tomorrow and it was really useful reading the information and comments on this page beforehand - apart from that Waldo who is clearly very unwell. We are apprehensive but looking forward to it |
reviewed by Lisa and Patrick from United Kingdom on Apr.01.2009 |
| Non ci sono commenti da fare quando arrivi a toccare con mano quello che i nazisti sono stati capaci di concepire durante gli stermini.
Abbiamo voluto che anche la nostra bimba di 7 anni potesse rendersi conto di quello che certe persone sono arrivate a fare perchè non si debba perdere memoria di tutto questo. |
reviewed by Nicola & Michela, Pistoia from Italy on Jan.27.2009 |
| does not tell you what items were removed |
reviewed by Your Mum from United States on Jan.20.2009 |
| I visited both Auschwitz 1 and 2 Birkenau in November, it was a cold, grey, miserable day. As I walked around camp 2 I couldn't speak nor could my friend. The full horror and evidence of the past was right in front of me and I still found it difficult to process. Let us never forget all those people regardless of nationality, race or gender who died but let us remember they were all someones relation. |
reviewed by Wendy from United Kingdom on Jan.14.2009 |
| waldo...i spit on you... your grandfather..and your mother...i smile when i remember Dresden and how you germ like germans were bombed and burned into oblivion...you are the true scum of the earth |
reviewed by JL from Israel on Nov.25.2008 |
| The education system in America does a very good job regarding the issue of WW2. I think the problem with some American student is that there is still a very deep rooted assumption that this kind of thing could never happen on our soil. Even with the civil war and slave history in this country, people fail to look for similarites in experience. The more people focus on the difference between us and them, the less likely one is to truly undertand HOW such history CAN happen. |
reviewed by Lisa Marie Palumbo from United States on Nov.06.2008 |
| my grandfather was in the world war 2. and i am glad that we killed more than 1 million people. oh yeah screw the jews |
reviewed by waldo fitzgerald from Germany on Oct.25.2008 |
| I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A GOOD INFORMATION BUT ITS DOESNT REALLY DESCRIBE THE PLACE THAT WELL |
reviewed by josephina gaspar from United States on Oct.16.2008 |
| I am german, my grandfather was german nazi soldier during World War II and i am so sorry about all that what has happen to Jews or Poland during this time.We should learn from that. |
reviewed by Eschelle from Germany on Aug.30.2008 |
| Pete, see my comments On Aushchwitz 1 for a couple of tips. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time, don't take a tour, make sure you plan your journey back to wherever you are staying as transport gets less frequent late evening |
reviewed by a from United Kingdom on Aug.24.2008 |
| ladybird is right. it wasn't just the jews although they were the MAJORITY. why are brits irrelevent?? thats a bit harsh. ladybird is not attacking americans indeed no one really just making a point.
the holocaust happened and it was shit, what ladybird is saying is it wasn't JUST jews is all. don't get personal just make it about the place it's reveiwing |
reviewed by purpletrumpet from United Kingdom on Aug.21.2008 |
| Ladybird. Your tone sounds a lot like the enablers. 6 million jews die at the hands of the Nazis and your comment is it wasn't only jews. You sound a lot like many other irrelevant Brits. |
reviewed by from United States on Aug.10.2008 |
| Reading the comments below, it is interesting to see how little people know about history and what actually happened during WW2. Is the education system so bad in America that one person doesn't know that Poland was invaded in 1939 by the Nazi - pick up a book!
The lesson of Auschwitz should be learnt, but once should also realise that it wasn't just the Jews who were murdered. There were gypsies, native poles, political opponents, homosexuals to name but a few who were exterminated in the gas chambers or worked to death.
By studying and learning from the past can we help avoid these situations again. However in this climate I sometimes wonder if anything has been learnt. |
reviewed by Ladybird from United Kingdom on Jul.16.2008 |
| If you fail to educate yourself, you allow it to happen again. Don't be ignorant - learn so that we don't make these mistakes again. |
reviewed by Teresa Sager from Canada on Jun.27.2008 |
| I am going there later this year and would welcome any help or tips from anyone. Where to go and what to see. Best times to visit. I have seen Bergen - Belsen and aslo Dachau. |
reviewed by Pete Austin from United Kingdom on Jun.07.2008 |
| Who wrote this page of information i doing a bibly |
reviewed by chase from United States on Apr.07.2008 |
| good but not alot information |
reviewed by tom from Botswana on Apr.04.2008 |
| My study is WW2 and I have personally been to Auschwitz and i can tell you that it gives you a tingle down your spine. Don't people hate me for this, but i'm a descendant of one of the officers that was in charge of Auschwitz. Now it doesn't upset when i see this, as living in Chester, Va i have seen some crazy stuff. However i do feel kinda sorry for those people. |
reviewed by Robert Baugher from United States on Apr.03.2008 |
| i feel soooo sorry for those people |
reviewed by chasen from United States on Mar.27.2008 |
| who built it!!!!!!!!!!!! the germans?? and did poland join the germans of were they invaded??? can someone please tell me thanks. |
reviewed by lmnl101 from United States on Mar.17.2008 |
| A visit to these camps is a must for every person to witness the horror that took place. No films I've seen or books I've read could prepare me for what I saw on my visit. This must never be allowed to be forgotten. |
reviewed by jimmy from Ireland on Feb.27.2008 |
| This was so awful! How can ANYONE disregard this as DUMB?!? Who the hell ARE you ppl to think of this that way? You weren't there...don't judge it...this is a place of evil and murder. Millions of innocent ppl killed everyday for YEARS!! Anyone who thinks this camp is not worth hearing about..seriously has no LIFE! No HEART! Nothing...you would be considered lowlife..heartless ppl..how could you...
To all who actually CARE about what happened...thank you. We will never forget..... |
reviewed by Shay Clark from United States on Feb.23.2008 |
| Nazi killed the many people of jewish, now, the israelite jewishes are kiling many peoples of Palesinian.
Why. |
reviewed by Antonio Bertoni from Italy on Feb.08.2008 |
| my dad came from poland and was in birkenau i would like auy one to send me a email to see if i can find anything out about my late father u has just pass away thanks |
reviewed by linda rutkiewicz from United Kingdom on Jan.20.2008 |
| I think yall need t tell what happened to camp Birkenau after the Holocaust |
reviewed by samantha from United States on Jan.08.2008 |
| hi. this was terrible!! |
reviewed by ashley from United States on Jan.04.2008 |
| I went to Auschwitz in 2005. It was chilling. Especially Auschwitz 2 - Birkenau. I am going again on Saturday. People need to go there & NEVER forget the evil of the Nazis. |
reviewed by Sarah from United Kingdom on Nov.22.2007 |
| When i think about the holocaust it something really scary to think about. We really don't want this to happen again in the future, and if it were who knows if any body would surive. |
reviewed by Angela from United States on Nov.20.2007 |
| ther holocaust really makes me think about all this. it was only like 65 years ago. the holocaust means alot to me and always will and we have to remeber the ones that perished |
reviewed by isabelle from Australia on May.30.2007 |
| I've been to Auschwitz Birkenau. On a cold November day I stood at the spot where the "selections" were made. Large snowflakes fell out the the gray somber sky, and skeletal poplars or other similar trees stood in the distance.
I was chilled to the bone with a coldness that did not leave me until long after I reboarded the heated bus that took me back to Krakow.
Every civilized person should go there and see how apparently civilized people conducted the most inhumane and uncivilized rituals in all of recorded history. |
reviewed by David from United States on May.27.2007 |
| u need jesus |
reviewed by jessica lara from United States on Apr.11.2007 |
| Really, this is the most horrifying part of any visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. I had been to see Auschwitz I twice before, but only last month had the opportunity to visit the horrific 'sister camp' of Birkenau (also called Auschwitz II) The scale of the evil is what is most terrifying. Climb the lookout tower of the main entrance building and you will see the enormity of the crime. You can even see where future death dormitories were planned. It is an abbatoir for humans on an industrial scale. Everyone must see this - and pray it never happens again. |
reviewed by Peter Matthieson from United Kingdom on Apr.02.2007 |
| I visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, with 37
other deafs from Sweden 2002. We find
it verry terrible, but we were sgreed,
peoples must see it! |
reviewed by berit forsberg from Sweden on Mar.26.2007 |
| u guys needs to put more unformation about War II and what to all of the jews |
reviewed by ashesly from United States on Mar.08.2007 |