In short

Auschwitz was established in 1940 as a concentration camp for Polish political prisoners by Nazi Germany.
It expanded into Auschwitz-Birkenau, becoming the largest and most notorious extermination camp during the Holocaust.
Over 1.1 million people, primarily Jews, were murdered at Auschwitz, along with thousands of others including Romani people, Polish political prisoners, and Soviet POWs.
The camp complex included three main camps and over 40 subcamps, used for forced labor and mass extermination.
Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet forces on January 27, 1945, revealing the extent of the Nazi atrocities.
Today, Auschwitz-Birkenau is a memorial and museum, serving as a powerful reminder of the Holocaust and a place of reflection and education.

Auschwitz, known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, is one of the most infamous and tragic symbols of the Holocaust, representing the systematic persecution and extermination of millions of people by the Nazi regime during World War II.

Located in Oświęcim, Poland, Auschwitz was initially established as a concentration camp in 1940 and later expanded into a complex of camps where atrocities were committed on an unimaginable scale.

If you are planning yourvisit to Auschwitzor just want tolearn about Auschwitz, this is where you can start your journey learning.

The origins of Auschwitz

Auschwitz was originally intended as a concentration camp for Polish political prisoners. It was established on the orders of Heinrich Himmler, one of the leading members of the Nazi Party and head of the SS (Schutzstaffel).

The first prisoners arrived at Auschwitz on June 14, 1940, consisting mainly of Polish intellectuals, resistance members, and anyone deemed a threat to Nazi control. The camp was built in an area annexed by Nazi Germany following the invasion of Poland in 1939.

The site was chosen for its strategic location, as it was situated at a crossroads of rail lines, facilitating the transport of prisoners from all over Europe. Initially, Auschwitz served the dual purpose of incarcerating perceived enemies of the Nazi state and providing forced labour to support the war effort.

Expansion and the creation of Auschwitz-Birkenau

In 1941, as the Nazis implemented the "Final Solution" — the plan to annihilate the Jewish population of Europe — Auschwitz expanded significantly.

The construction of Auschwitz II-Birkenau began, marking the transition from a concentration camp to an extermination camp. Birkenau, located approximately 3 kilometres from the main camp (Auschwitz I), became the largest of the Auschwitz complex's camps and the primary site of mass murder.

Auschwitz II-Birkenau was designed explicitly for extermination, with gas chambers and crematoria constructed to carry out the systematic killing of Jews, Romani people, Soviet prisoners of war, and others deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime. At its peak, Birkenau had four operational gas chambers, where up to 6,000 people were murdered each day.

The scale of the atrocities

Auschwitz-Birkenau has become a symbol of the Holocaust due to the sheer scale of the atrocities committed there. It is estimated that at least 1.1 million people were murdered at Auschwitz, the vast majority of whom were Jews. The camp also claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Polish political prisoners, Romani people, Soviet prisoners of war, disabled individuals, and others.

The camp complex consisted of three main camps: Auschwitz I (the original camp), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the extermination camp), and Auschwitz III-Monowitz (a labor camp that provided slave labor for nearby industrial plants). Additionally, there were over 40 subcamps spread across the region, where prisoners were forced to work in inhumane conditions.

Liberation and aftermath

On January 27, 1945, Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz, discovering the remnants of the Nazi genocide. By the time of liberation, most of the prisoners had been evacuated on death marches to other camps within the shrinking Nazi empire, but around 7,000 remained behind, including many too ill or weak to be moved.

The world was shocked by the evidence of the crimes committed at Auschwitz, which included mountains of human hair, piles of shoes, and other personal belongings stripped from the victims. The camp's liberation marked a pivotal moment in the world's understanding of the Holocaust, and the date is now commemorated annually as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The legacy of Auschwitz

Today, the Auschwitz-Birkenau site serves as a memorial and museum, preserving the memory of the victims and educating future generations about the horrors of the Holocaust. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, emphasizing its significance as a place of memory and warning.

Visitors to Auschwitz can walk through the remains of the camp, including the infamous entrance gate with the sign "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work sets you free"), the barracks, and the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum also contains exhibits of personal belongings, photographs, and documents that bear witness to the atrocities committed there.

Before to visit, remember to check availability of tickets in theofficial websiteor intickets for Auschwitzif you are travelling from Krakow.

Auschwitz stands as a powerful reminder of the consequences of hatred, bigotry, and totalitarianism. It is not just a historical site but a place of deep reflection and respect for the millions who suffered and perished. The lessons of Auschwitz are more relevant than ever, encouraging visitors and the world to remember the past and ensure that such horrors are never repeated.

As you plan your visit, it is essential to approach Auschwitz with the respect and solemnity it deserves. The site is not just a historical location; it is a graveyard, a place where countless lives were lost, and their memory must be honoured with dignity and reflection.

History of Auschwitz: A memory and historical site

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