Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Auschwitz concentration camp is located in the city of Auschwitz, 54 kilometers west of Krakow. It was a concentration camp and extermination camp during World War II. The area controlled by the Auschwitz concentration camp administration of Nazi Germany at that time was 40 square kilometers. There were 3 main camps and 39 small camps in the concentration camp, which were distributed throughout the Silesia region in southern Poland.Concentration camp structureThe concentration camps consisted of Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II Birkenau, and Auschwitz III Monowitz. Gypsies, prisoners of war, intellectuals, and members of resistance organizations from more than 30 countries including Germany, the Soviet Union, Poland, France, Austria, and Hungary were imprisoned in the concentration camps. According to statistics, about 1.5 million people were killed here, so it is also called the "death factory." Auschwitz concentration camp is a historical witness to the heinous crimes committed by Nazi Germany.Tour GuideCurrently, Auschwitz I and II concentration camps are open to the public as museums. From the service center, you can follow the signs to the gate of the concentration camp, on which hangs a slogan "Arbeit Machtfrei" ("Hard work will bring you freedom"). Neatly arranged beech trees line the road, with red brick walls in the middle.The guided tour will help you understand this heavy history more deeply and thoroughly. You must undergo security check before entering the museum and large luggage must be stored.Camp OneCamp No. 1 was one of the earliest concentration camps built, and it was also the main administrative center for the entire Auschwitz concentration camp area. In the early days of its construction, there were 14 bungalows and 6 two-story buildings. In 1942, there were as many as 20,000 prisoners registered here, who were held in small cells, basements and attics. The indoor exhibition hall displays the remains of the victims: about 100,000 shoes, 3,800 suitcases, thousands of pairs of glasses, woolen cloth made of human hair, etc. Archival photos of prisoners taken when they arrived at the concentration camp are also displayed here, which makes people feel sad.Gas chamber No. 1 and incinerator are also located in Camp No. 1. Prisoners who were judged by the Nazis as "incapable of working" were transported here and tricked into the gas chamber under the pretext of "bathing". The surrounding walls are left with nail scratches left by prisoners in their dying struggles, which is shocking. Building No. 11, known as the "death prison", has almost completely preserved its original appearance at that time. Here are displayed the detention room, whipping room, gallows, standing cells, etc. for prisoners waiting for temporary judgment. The wall between Building No. 10 and Building No. 11 is called the "Wall of Death". It is said that the prisoners were brutally shot here.Camp No. 2After visiting Camp No. 1, you can return to the exit and take the shuttle bus to Birkenau Concentration Camp No. 2, which takes about 5 minutes. Camp No. 2 is mainly visited by outdoor hiking. The road is paved with stones and is not easy to walk. It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes when visiting. Camp No. 2 is very large, covering an area of 175 hectares. The Nazis built 300 wooden houses. It was the main "extermination camp" during World War II. There were execution grounds and gas chambers here for large-scale killings. The gate of Camp No. 2 has appeared in many movies such as "Schindler's List" and is known as the "Gate of Death". The railway tracks on the ground pass through this heavy "Gate of Death". At the end of the railway tracks stands a huge memorial stone, surrounded by four million stones. Each stone here symbolizes an innocent victim. The buildings of Camp No. 2 retain their original appearance at that time and can be visited inside.