Visit the Largest Extermination Camp of Europe – Auschwitz

If you are in Warsaw and you want to visit Auschwitz join one of our tours! There, you will learn more about the tragic history of that place.

Germans opened Auschwitz Birkenau in former Polish army barracks in June 1940. They picked Oswiecim as the location of the camp. Nazi Germany connected that Polish city to the Third Reich.

Auschwitz was the largest extermination camp in Europe. These days, people worldwide know Auschwitz as the symbol of terror as well as the Holocaust.

 

Camps in Auschwitz

Auschwitz consisted of over 40 concentration as well as extermination camps. Nazi operated them in occupied Poland during World War II and also the Holocaust.

It consisted of Auschwitz I which was the main camp, Auschwitz II-Birkenau which was a concentration and also extermination camp, Auschwitz III-Monowitz which was a labor camp as well as many subcamps.

Know more:-  Where is Auschwitz ?

Auschwitz History

Germany started World War II in 1939 by invading Poland. They made Auschwitz I the war prisoners camp for Polish political prisoners.

Germans brought the first inmates to the camp in May 1940. A few months later, in August 1941, they started first gassings. They held them in block 11 of Auschwitz I. Month later, they started building Auschwitz II. From 1942 to 1944, Germans delivered their Jews from all over German-occupied Europe.

 

Also, Read Treblinka Concentration Camp – Visit Treblinka from Warsaw!

 

Germans sent 1.3 million people to Auschwitz. 1.1 million of them died in the camp. Jews were 960,000 prisoners who died. Moreover, 865,000 of them were gassed on the arrival. The rest of the deceased prisoners were 74,000 non-Jewish Poles, 21,000 Roma, 15,000 Soviet, and also 15,000 other Europeans.

Those who avoided gass died of exhaustion, disease, starvation, individual executions, or beatings. In addition, some of them were killed during medical experiments.

At least 802 prisoners tried to escape from Auschwitz. 144 of them made it successfully. However, on 7 October 1944 two units which consisted of prisoners who staffed the gas chambers also tried to escape. Unfortunately, they failed. 789 people (about 15% of the staff) ever stood trial, the rest of them were executed.

The Soviet Red Army approached to Auschwitz in January 1945. After that, the SS sent most of their prisoners to the camps inside Germany as well as Austria.

 

Read More: Krakow to Auschwitz Birkenau – The Largest Extermination Camp

 

Soviet troops entered the camp on 27 January 1945. It is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day since 2005.

In 1947 Poland made the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. In 1979 UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. Decades after the war some camp survivors wrote memories of their experiences.

 

Our Recommended Tours

We have two tours for you to choose from! Join one of them and see Auschwitz. It is one of the must-haves to visit if you are in Poland. Our professional guide will answer all of your questions.

From Warsaw to Auschwitz and Krakow Old Town Private Tour

This tour gives you the possibility to see two of Poland’s iconic landmarks. You will visit not only Auschwitz but also beautiful Krakow!

Firstly, you will travel from Warsaw to Auschwitz. Your guide will give you a walking tour there. You will see main sights, prisoner barracks as well as gas chambers, and many more.

Later, you will visit Krakow. Your guide will show you the highlights of Krakow. You will see the famous Old Town and amazing architecture. At this time, you will go for traditional lunch and eat dumplings. After some free time, your driver will drop you off at your hotel in Warsaw.

This is 15 hours tour and it starts at 5:00 am.

 

From Warsaw to Auschwitz Tour with Private Transport

If you only want to see Auschwitz then this tour will be better for you. Your driver will transport you from Warsaw to Auschwitz. There, you will be able to learn about one of the darkest chapters of European history. Your guide will show you gas chambers, barracks, and many more. He will tell you more about tragic events that took place in the camp.

Later, the driver will drop you off at your hotel in Warsaw.

This is 11 hours tour and it starts at 5:40 am. Pick the best day for you and join our amazing tour!  Connect with us for all your travel enquiries.