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The Dark Legacy of Auschwitz Birkenau
Auschwitz
WARNING: Text may contain sensitive content
Auschwitz was the largest of all Nazi concentration camps during World War II. It was located in Poland, and it is estimated that over 1 million people were killed there between 1940 and 1945. Auschwitz is a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust.
The first prisoners at Auschwitz were Poles who had been arrested for resisting Nazi occupation forces in 1939-1940. Later on Jews from across Europe were sent to be imprisoned there as part of Hitler’s “Final Solution” plan to exterminate all Jewish people living within German-controlled territories or those considered undesirable by the Nazis such as homosexuals, Roma (Gypsies), political dissidents etc.. The camp also held Soviet POWs, Jehovah Witnesses, disabled persons and other persecuted individuals. Inmates faced harsh conditions including starvation rations, forced labor, overcrowding, physical abuse from guards along with medical experiments conducted without consent. Many inmates died due to these conditions while others perished in gas chambers or through execution by firing squad.
Today Auschwitz stands as a memorial site dedicated to victims murdered during WWII, but its legacy lives on as one of history’s most infamous symbols for man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man. Despite its horrific past it serves an important reminder about our capacity for evil, if we do not stand up against hate & prejudice when we see them arise in society today so that future generations may never have experience what happened here again.
Birkenau
Birkenau was one of the most notorious concentration camps during World War II. Located in Poland, it was part of the Auschwitz complex, and served as an extermination camp for Jews and other minority groups. Birkenau is infamous for being a symbol of Nazi cruelty during this time period.
When first constructed in 1941, Birkenau had 30 wooden barracks that housed around 20,000 prisoners at its peak capacity. This number increased to over 100 thousand by 1944, when gas chambers were added to increase efficiency with mass killings. The camp also contained numerous guard towers, where SS officers watched over inmates 24 hours a day; these guards would often use dogs or guns against anyone, who disobeyed orders or tried to escape from the camp’s boundaries.
The horrors experienced within Birkenau are still remembered today, due to survivors’ accounts as well as photographs taken by Allied forces upon liberation in 1945. It serves not only as reminder of how far humanity can sink into depravity, but also stands testament that even under such circumstances there can be hope, many survivors went on lead successful lives despite their traumatic experiences at this terrible place.
Provided Service
Includes:
- Licensed local guide
- Entry fees (Auschwitz I & Auschwitz II Birkenau), insurance and taxes
- Headsets to hear the guide clearly
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Professional assistance in case of any issue
- Highly qualified, helpful and friendly customer service
- Entry/Admission – Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau
Excludes:
- Food and drinks – (option to extra order a lunch box)
Important:
- Eating, smoking and drinking are forbidden at the Museum
- Please take your ID card/passport with you. Tickets to the museum are personal. Those protections/restrictions are to protect UNESCO World Heritage Site Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Entrance at the first part of the museum, looks like on the airport, seciurity, metal detector gate. Those protections/ristrictions are to protect UNESCO World Heritage Site Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Extra Information:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Please, inform the supplier if you plan on taking a wheelchair (only folded wheelchairs are allowed), a stroller or any large bags/luggages with you.
- Please inform the Us, if your child is less than 150cm tall so that a child seat can be prepared
- Make sure to eat breakfast before you start the activity
Let us know earlier, and we will organize everything in the most convenient way.
What to take
- ID, passport etc.
- Comfortable shoes
- Choose clothes to respect former victims in museum
- Bootle of something to drink
Pricing
1-3 people
400PLN / 102$ / 93€ / 78£ per
person *
4-8 people
350PLN / 90$ / 82€ / 69£ per
person *
8+ people
320PLN / 82$ / 75€ / 63£ per
person *
* Please note that prices may vary depending on the current exchange rates.
Tour time 6-7 h
Itenary
This is a typical itinerary for this experience.
Kraków
Your journey starts with transportation from Krakow, either from your hotel or a selected meeting point. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum is located in Oswiecim, approximately 65 km away, which takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach. All drivers are fully licensed to transport passengers according to EU regulations. An English-speaking group leader will assist you throughout the trip. Upon arriving in Oswiecim, there will be a brief break for refreshments or to explore outdoor exhibits. You will then meet your local, licensed guide, approved by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.
*Duration: approx. 2 hours*
Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
Begin your visit at Auschwitz I, the first camp, which was initially designed as a concentration camp after Germany annexed Poland in 1939. The tour begins by passing under the iconic „Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Sets You Free) sign. This portion of the tour usually takes about 2 hours, and headsets will be provided to ensure you can hear the guide clearly. Groups are limited to 30 participants, in line with museum regulations, to ensure comfort for all. You’ll witness original structures like wooden barracks, watchtowers, barbed wire, gas chambers, and crematoriums, all of which give a chilling sense of the scale of the Holocaust.
*Duration: approx. 2 hours*
Brzezinka
After a brief 15-minute break, you will be taken to Birkenau (Auschwitz II), just a short 3-minute drive away. This section of the camp, constructed in 1941 under the orders of Heinrich Himmler, was designed to accommodate up to 90,000 prisoners. Your guide will share harrowing stories of the brutal living conditions, selections, and inhumane medical experiments carried out by Nazi doctors, including Josef Mengele. The visit ends with a reflection on the camp’s liberation by the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front on January 27, 1945, a day that marked the end of one of history’s greatest atrocities.
*Duration: approx. 1 hour 20min*
Kraków
Following the tour, you’ll have at least 20 minutes to relax, visit a bookstore, or grab some refreshments. Afterward, you will be transported back to your pre-arranged drop-off location in Krakow, which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
*Duration: approx. 2 hours*
Interested or have questions?