Auschwitz, Poland Part 2

 

Then Jews became the majority of the prisoners.

Auschwitz II was also known as Birkenau. Not a familiar name, but this is the Auschwitz you are talking about when you think of it. It is where, mostly in 1944, millions of people were shipped to by train, from all over Europe, some traveling up to 12 days without food or water. Hundreds of thousands died before getting here. When they arrived they were sorted, like animals, and you know the rest. What I didn’t know was that the Nazis burned down or blew up everything they could as the Russians were approaching to liberate the camp in 1945. The Russians came so quickly, though, that some buildings remained and some 70,000 infirm people were left behind. You have seen their pictures, too. Birkenau is many times the size of Auschwitz I, with chimneys of some of the barracks the only reminder of how huge it was. Here they organized the operation like a cattle slaughter house operating at full capacity. They used everything the people brought with them as well as all parts of them. If you want more info, let me know and I can either tell you about it when we get home or email you.

 

           

                                                                                can you see how far into the distance the chimneys go?   

                                                         Each chimney was another barrack the same size as these.

 

                  

 

    I added my stone 

 

On the other side of the camp were the brick barracks, not made from horse stables, but built from the bricks of the homes they took over to build the camp.

  again, only a small portion remains.

     these buildings were twice the size of the stables and had 2 sets of these bunks

 

Auschwitz III was a camp where the workers worked in chemical and manufacturing plants. This was the only camp bombed during the war. We did not go there, since it has been turned into productive use.

We were required to take a guided tour, since there were hundreds of people there, and they said it was necessary. We are glad we did. The guide was very heartfelt and informative and I would HATE to have her job. It must be emotionally exhausting.

There is an exhibit that has a pile of personal luggage that was found when the Russians came. Most of them have the name and addresses of the owners on them, just as we do now.

    Can you see Nadelmann?  We have relatives with names similar.

I want to go back before they close at 7, when most of the crowds have gone back to Krakow, and look more closely at the names. I guess I am not going this evening, at 5:30 the totally blue sky clouded up and we are now experiencing a huge thunder storm all around us, with large drops of rain and lots of wind. I guess I’m not supposed to see it today.

Maybe tomorrow when we are catching a nite train and heading to Romania, we hope, we can go back and look. We still need to get reservations.

Addendum:  This post was very difficult to do.  We did go back the next morning and look at the luggage and walk around by ourselves is relative quiet.  It was much more moving and disturbing than when you are being hustled around.  We are glad we took the tour and glad we returned on our own.

About getting to Romania………….read the next post.