Visiting Auschwitz is a sobering experience, a stark reminder of one of the darkest chapters in human history. This guided tour through Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, led by our knowledgeable guide Lukas, provided an in-depth look at the atrocities committed within these camps.

Arrival and Entry

Upon arrival, practicalities had to be taken care of: parking cost 10 zł, luggage storage was 4 zł, and being on time was crucial to collect the necessary headphone guide for the tour.

Once inside, Lukas began by explaining the sheer scale of the Auschwitz complex. There were around 50 sub-camps, and Auschwitz itself was incorporated into Nazi-occupied Poland in 1939. By 1940-41, Polish residents from the town and surrounding villages were forcibly deported to make way for the camp’s expansion.

Auschwitz I: The Camp and Its Horrors

Block 11: The Prison of Auschwitz

The first stop was Block 11, the infamous “prison within a prison.” This building housed prisoners who attempted to escape or resisted Nazi rule. Here, they endured brutal punishments, including starvation cells where four people were crammed into a 1m² space, leading to suffocation and death. In September 1944, the basement of Block 11 was used for the first experimental gassing of prisoners, resulting in the deaths of 600 Soviet POWs and 250 Polish prisoners.

Outside Block 11, executions took place against the infamous “Death Wall,” where prisoners were shot execution-style.

Extermination and Exploitation

The tour continued to Block 4, which contained the ashes of victims. Room 2 detailed the extermination process, while Room 5 highlighted the exploitation of corpses, displaying original Zyklon B gas cans and seven tonnes of human hair, which were used to make textiles. Piles of glasses, prosthetics, and personal belongings served as haunting reminders of the lives lost.

In Block 5, only a small fraction of the prisoners’ confiscated belongings could be displayed. Thousands of shoes—many belonging to children, who made up 20% of the victims—were stacked high, a chilling testament to the mass murder that took place here.

Living Conditions and Forced Labor

A walk through Block 7 revealed the cramped barracks where up to 700 prisoners were housed. The corridor walls were lined with hundreds of prisoner photos, each documenting their arrival date and date of death.

Prisoners were forced to work outside the camp, given only 1-2 hours of personal time per day before being required to return to the barracks—or risk being shot. Escape was nearly impossible, but around 200 prisoners managed to flee successfully. The infamous Auschwitz tattoos, permanently marking prisoners with a number, were a constant reminder of their dehumanization.

Commandant’s Villa: A Disturbing Contrast

Just meters away from the horrors of the camp stood the villa of the Auschwitz commandant, where SS officers and their families lived. Children played in the yard while mass executions occurred nearby—a surreal and disturbing juxtaposition.

Auschwitz II-Birkenau: The Death Factory

After a 20-minute break, a free 5-minute shuttle bus took us to Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the largest extermination camp in Europe, covering 200 hectares.

Upon entry, we were met with endless rows of barracks and the railway tracks that delivered countless prisoners to their fate. At the central unloading platform, the notorious selection process took place:

  • Left: Forced labor in the work camp
  • Right: Immediate death in the gas chambers

Since Auschwitz was a labor camp, it had a higher survival rate than other extermination camps, but the majority of arrivals were still sent to the gas chambers.

The Ruins of Extermination Facilities

At the end of the camp lay the ruins of the crematorium and gas chambers, destroyed by the SS as they attempted to cover up their crimes. A memorial, built in 1967, now stands in honor of the victims.

The wooden barracks were even more primitive than those in Auschwitz I, housing 600-700 prisoners each. Typhus, spread by lice, was the biggest threat, killing both prisoners and guards alike.

Reflections on the Tour

Visiting Auschwitz is a deeply emotional and eye-opening experience. The scale of suffering, the industrialized mass murder, and the personal stories of the victims leave a lasting impact. As we returned our headphone guides and boarded the shuttle back, the weight of history was undeniable.

Auschwitz stands as a stark warning of what unchecked hatred and prejudice can lead to. It is a place that must never be forgotten.

Would you visit Auschwitz on a guided tour, or do you think it’s best explored individually? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Practical Information for Visitors

  • Parking: 10 zł
  • Luggage Storage: 4 zł
  • Guided Tours: Headphone guides are required
  • Auschwitz I & II Distance: 5-minute free shuttle bus
  • Be Prepared: The tour is emotionally intense and requires significant walking