Day Eight: Our visit to Auschwitz

We left lunch and began our drive to Auschwitz.  It is about an hour and a half outside of the city and as we approached the mood on the bus began to change.  The chatter and excitement of a day spent in Old Town, Krakow began to fade away and a much more somber feeling upon us.  We arrived at the camp and proceeded to the entrance to the museum.  Our group was divided into two sections.  We had two different guides directing us and we were provided whisper headsets.  We were told that Auschwitz was actually composed of quite a few camps.  We would be visiting Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkinau.  Our tour began in Auschwitz I.  It was originally a Polish military camp that was converted into a Concentration Camp after the Nazi occupation of Poland began.  The original prisoners at the camp were Polish, but the list grew to contain Europeans from all walks of life.  Of course, as we know, the majority of people interred at the camp were Jewish, but Gypsies, Communists, Homosexuals, Atheists, Priests, the physically and mentally ill, and many more were killed there as well.

The approach to the camp begins on a gravel covered road.  Not too far from where we met our guide, we could see the entrance to the camp.  Standing ominously in front of us was the famous sign, "Arbeit Macht Frie." Work will set you free.

The barbed wire fence surrounded the entire camp and as we paused for pictures we recognized the severity of the events that occurred across the threshold.  Our guide escorted us to one of the barracks.  She explained that there were around 30 buildings in Auschwitz I.  We toured through four of them; each with its own chilling story.  In one building we saw thousands of pounds of human hair.  In another building, we saw photographs of victims who were murdered.  We saw countless artifacts that the Germans kept including glasses, suitcases, and shoes.  We toured through the Prison block.  Here we saw the darkness cells, standing cells, and the Gestapo tribunal that ordered the execution of thousands of political opponents, Jewish people, and more.  After leaving the barracks, we headed towards the gas chamber.  At Auschwitz I, there was one gas chamber and crematorium.  They believe it was responsible for the death of approximately 80,000 people.

The Gas Chamber and Crematorium at Auschwitz I

Entering the chamber is an eerie feeling that cannot be fully expressed in this blog.  Needless to say, not many words were spoken as we concluded our tour of Auschwitz I and headed to Birkinau.  Our guides met us there and continued our tour.  As you approach the site, you are witness to another well known view.

The gate entering Birkinau

The railroad lines that led into Birkinau

The size of this camp is massive.  Over 400 barracks stood on this site and at the time of the camp's liberation, the Nazis had planned to double its size.  We visited one of the barracks that had been used as a latrine.  The conditions were deplorable.  We also visited a living quarters barracks.  We were told that it might not be uncommon to find nearly 700 people living in one of these barracks.  We were shocked to learn that they originally had been designed to hold 52 horses, but had been modified to hold humans.  There was no real heating system.  Once again, the seriousness of the situation resonated with us all.  Our guide took us to a memorial site located at the rear of the camp.  Here we paused and reflected.  We placed stones of remembrance upon the memorial.  Victor Thunderchild, one of our Canadian Group Leaders, led a First Nation prayer and song of honor.  He left his people's traditional symbol of remembrance; tobacco.  It was an impressive and dignified service.  Ian led the group in a prayer.  His words were sympathetic and came from deep within his heart.  There were hardly any dry eyes.

Ms. Alongi placing her stone of remembrance.

Our tribute to the victims.  

Saugus High School's tribute

A stone of remembrance from our friends from Canada.

We departed the camp with a greater sense of responsibility.  I heard more than one student state that the visit had changed them.  If one must travel to learn, then this visit has certainly taught us some valuable lessons.