#Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps Oswiecim

[carbone14]

Les portes du camp de concentration d'Auschwitz-Birkenau vues de l'intérieur du camp – Oswiecim – Pologne – Après le 27 janvier 1945

©Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum

[eretzyisrael]

by Debbie Weiss

Anti-Israel protesters on Monday disrupted an event at Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp in Poland, commemorating the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust by the Nazis.

The International March of the Living, an annual Holocaust education program founded in 1988, brings people from around the world to Poland each year for Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day — known as Yom HaShoah — to march on the path leading from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the Nazis’ largest death camp where 1 million Jews were murdered during World War II.

Survivors of the Hamas terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel joined 55 Holocaust survivors in this year’s march. However, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the coinciding record surge in global antisemitism, anti-Israel protesters gathered near the grounds of Auschwitz, sparking outrage.

Local police put up a barricade to prevent dozens of demonstrators from approaching the marchers, who passed by as the protesters shouted slogans including “stop the genocide.”

Anti-Israel protesters hold flags on the route of the annual International March of the Living, outside former Auschwitz Nazi German death camp, in Oswiecim, Poland, May 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki

Marchers, many of whom carried Israeli flags, responded by changing, “Free Gaza from Hamas!” and singing “Am Yisrael Chai.”

[henk-heijmans]

Pope Francis walks through a gate with the words "Arbeit macht Frei" at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland, 2016 - by Paweł Supernak (1979), Polish

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Shiryn Ghermezian

An Israeli team of artistic swimmers won the gold medal on Friday at the 2023 European Games in Oswiecim, Poland, near the site of the former Auschwitz concentration camp.

The 11-person female team took home the top honor in the team free routine combination finals, marking Israel’s first-ever European gold and second European team medal overall, according to the European Games. The team swam to the theme of “Modern Spanish Dance” and became European champions with a score of 248.6083, while their performance was also awarded the full Degree of Difficulty (DD) of 35.0.

Israeli Olympic Association Chairperson Yael Arad, who won Israel’s first Olympic medal in 1992 in judo, noted the symbolism of Israel’s historic gold medal win near the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where nearly 1 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.

“There is nothing more symbolic than standing with your head held high and singing [the Israeli national anthem] Hatikvah just 10 minutes from Auschwitz,” said Arad, according to Israel’s Channel 13. She added that the whole team had “tears in our eyes.”

“We promised to carry the memory of our Jewish brethren and that is what we are doing,” she noted.

Germany won the silver with a score of 163.3205 for its “Monster Party – Greetings from the Addams Family” routine and Turkey took home the bronze medal with a score of 135.7999 after swimming to the theme of “The Rhythm.” Only three countries participated in the finals.

While this year’s European Games are officially being held in Krakow, the aquatics competitions took place at the Aquatics Centre in the city of Oswiecim, where the former Nazi concentration camp is located, which is now the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.

“We were very focused before the competition as we knew we had a chance to win this event and that gave us huge motivation,” said Israeli swimmer Shelly Bobritsky following her team’s gold medal win. “We were really determined, felt the energy in the water so I think our swim was quite good. We wanted to catch the judges’ eyes, do our best and we just did that. It was so nice to hear our national anthem played at the end.”

On Sunday, a smaller team of Israeli artistic swimmers won the bronze medal in the team free finals at the 2023 European Games, which is taking place from June 21 to July 2.

[soxendanso]

‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ is a project I took part in near the end of March, and it was a journey where an organisation took a group of students to Auschwitz-Birkenau to bear witness to the horrors that happened during the years when the Holocaust took place. Throughout the project, we were urged to understand it as something that occurred to individuals, rather than statistics, that dehumanise the people who went through these concentration and death camps.

For my response to this project, I created a piece of art to show my understanding of what I learnt, as well as a way to share this with as many people as I can.

In this image, I have painted four victims of the Holocaust above a landscape depicting the polish town Oswiecim before the Holocaust. The town is found near the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, and before the Holocaust, it housed a population that was 60% Jewish. Now, there are no Jewish families living there.

The red colour of the painting represents the urgency in which the information about the Holocaust should be shared. As survivors decrease in number, we need to continue to remember this terrible event that happened in History, so that it never happens again.

The second portrait is of a 14-year-old girl named Czeslawa Kwoka, one of many children murdered by the Nazi regime. When the picture I used for reference was taken, she was beaten up by the guard instructing her on what to do because she did not understand the language that they were speaking. Czeslawa died one year after the picture was taken, in 1943, soon after her mother. They were a Polish family deported from their village to create living-space for Germans.

With the increase in extremism in today’s world, it is very important to remember events such as the murder of people like Czeslawa, understand that every person was an individual, and make sure we prevent future genocides.

‘When you listen to a witness, you become a witness’ -Elie Wiesel

[jwood718]

“This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, government officials from various countries gathered at the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp to remember victims and honor survivors.

Among them, for the first time, was the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is visiting Krakow, Poland and Berlin this week to promote both Holocaust awareness and the Biden administration's efforts to combat antisemitism.”

Doug Emhoff lays a wreath honoring Holocaust victims at the former Auschwitz site on Friday in Oswiecim, Poland.  Omar Marques/Getty Images via NPR.

"’As we reflect on history, we know that the bigotry that fueled the Holocaust did not end when the camps were liberated,’ Emhoff and [U.S. special envoy Deborah] Lipstadt wrote in a joint op-ed published Friday in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

‘Antisemitism may be considered one of the oldest forms of hatred, but its insidious impact and its deep dangers are not relegated to the past.’"

Full story by Rachel Treisman for NPR.

[mariacallous]

United Nations heritage body UNESCO announced on Thursday evening that six ex-Yugoslav republics agreed to renovate Block 17 of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, a former shared exhibition space which has stood empty for many years because the six countries could not agree how the events of the Holocaust in Yugoslavia should be represented.

The deal was made after 14 years of negotiations and UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay said that it “fills a void, an absence of memory at the very site where these horrors unfolded”.

“It shows our joint commitment to learning from the past and healing the wounds of history, which transcends borders and generations,” Azoulay said at a ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris to announce the agreement, according to a press release.

Around 20,000 people from Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, most of them Jews, but also Roma.

In the mid-1960s, a Yugoslav national exhibition was opened in Block 17 of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oswiecim. The exhibition was last updated at the end of 1980s, just before the violent break-up of Yugoslavia.

During and after Yugoslavia’s collapse, memorialisation of World War II events became a contentious issue between its successor republics, who often interpreted history differently for contemporary political purposes. This meant there was no further cooperation over the Auschwitz exhibition and the Yugoslav pavilion was eventually closed in 2009.

The Serbian Ministry of Culture said in a statement on Thursday that the agreement “envisages the joint financing of the renovation and conservation of the first floor of Block 17 and the common rooms and structures that the former Yugoslav republics share with Austria”.

The agreement also envisages “the joint financing of the costs of implementing a joint permanent exhibition at the place of remembrance for the victims from the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the concentration camp and Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp”.

Montenegrin Culture Minister Tamara Vujovic said that “through this agreement, Montenegro and other former Yugoslav republics are showing solidarity and commitment to preserving the memories that connect us”, Radio Television Montenegro reported.

The director-general of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, Wojciech Soczewica, said after the signing that it was “a clear sign” that the governments of the six ex-Yugoslav states “are willing … to contribute to memory and our responsibility towards future generations”.

The announcement of the agreement came ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, when ceremonies are being held in countries across the region to commemorate the victims.

On Friday in Zagreb, a Croatian parliament delegation led by speaker Gordan Jandrokovic laid a wreath at the monument to Moses at the Mirogoj cemetery, while deputy prime minister Davor Bozinovic did the same on behalf of the government.

“This is also a moment to remember what the Jewish people contributed to Croatian society,” said Zvonimir Troskot from the MOST (Bridge) party, who was part of the parliamentary delegation.

A wreath was also laid on behalf of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, whose president, Pedja Grbin, said the Holocaust was a crime that “must never happen again”.

“Unfortunately, today we see the hatred that is flourishing in Europe and the world. Again, people are attacked because they are different,” Grbin warned.

“If you look around the world, the number of people who deny that the Holocaust even happened is frightening,” he added.

Traditional Jewish visitation stones were also placed at the monument in memory of the Holocaust’s victims by the president of the Jewish Municipality of Zagreb, Ognjen Kraus, and Rabbi Luciano Moshe Prelevic.

In the Bosnian capital on Friday, the Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Jewish Municipality of Sarajevo also organised a commemorative event to honour Holocaust victims.

Jakob Finci, president of the Jewish Community, noted that six million Jews perished in the Holocaust, but some survived.

“Today, despite the passing years, we have nearly 245,000 people who survived the Holocaust. Of them, 54 live in our country. Therefore we should, not only for them who are alive but for ourselves, remember it and speak about it to others,” Finci said.

In Montenegro, parliament and the Jewish Community will hold a commemoration on Saturday.

[taruntravell]

Navigating Auschwitz: A Comprehensive Guide to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Tours

Auschwitz-Birkenau, located near the town of Oswiecim in southern Poland, was the largest complex of Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers during World War II. Visiting Auschwitz tours-Birkenau is a powerful and sobering experience, and it's important to approach the tours with respect and sensitivity. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate your visit:

Before Your Visit:

Book in Advance:

Tours to Auschwitz-Birkenau are highly popular, and it's essential to book your visit in advance. You can do this through the official Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum website.

Transportation:

Auschwitz is about 70 km west of Krakow. Consider how you will get there—options include guided tours from Krakow or individual travel by car or public transportation.

Tour Options:

There are various tour options available, including group tours, private tours, and self-guided tours. Choose the one that suits your preferences.

During Your Visit:

Arrival:

Arrive early to allow time for security checks and to absorb the atmosphere before the tour begins.

Respectful Attire:

Dress modestly and respectfully. Remember that Auschwitz-Birkenau is a memorial site.

Guided Tours:

Consider taking a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide who can provide historical context, personal stories, and answer questions.

Photography:

Photography is allowed in some areas but prohibited in others. Always follow the rules and respect the sensitivity of the site.

Silence and Respect:

Maintain a solemn and respectful demeanor throughout the visit. Auschwitz is a place of remembrance and reflection.

Documentation:

Take time to read the various exhibits and documentation presented. This will enhance your understanding of the historical context.

After Your Visit:

Reflection:

Take time to reflect on your experience. Auschwitz-Birkenau is a place of immense tragedy, and visitors often leave with a deep sense of introspection.

Support Resources:

Understand that the experience can be emotionally challenging. If needed, seek support from friends, family, or professionals.

Educate Others:

Share your experience responsibly with others. Promote awareness and understanding of the Holocaust.

Additional Tips:

Weather Considerations:

Be prepared for varying weather conditions, as parts of the tour are outdoors.

Comfortable Footwear:

Wear comfortable shoes as the terrain can be uneven.

Food and Water:

Bring water and a snack, especially if you are taking a longer tour.

Children and Sensitivity:

Consider the emotional impact on children, and determine whether the tour is suitable for them.

Remember that Auschwitz-Birkenau is a place of profound historical significance, and visiting requires a thoughtful and respectful approach.

[stnews24]

Auschwitz museum begins emotional work of conserving shoes of murdered children : NPR

A worker holds a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the conservation laboratory on the grounds of the camp in Oswiecim, Poland, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Michal Dyjuk/AP hide caption toggle caption Michal Dyjuk/AP A worker holds a shoe that belonged to a child victim of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau at the…

[umichenginabroad]

A Journey of Remembrance: Touring Auschwitz-Birkenau

Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau is a solemn and powerful experience that holds immense historical significance. As one of the most notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camps during World War II, Auschwitz-Birkenau serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed against millions of innocent lives. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and provide essential information to help you navigate this somber yet educational tour.

Historical Context

To truly grasp the magnitude of Auschwitz-Birkenau, it's crucial to understand its historical context. During the Holocaust, over a million Jews, along with Poles, Romani people, Soviet prisoners of war, and others, lost their lives in this camp. Auschwitz-Birkenau symbolizes the horrors of the Holocaust and stands as a testament to the resilience of those who suffered.

Here are some tips in planning a visit to Auschwitz.

1. Preparing Emotionally: A visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau can be emotionally challenging. It is essential to mentally prepare yourself for the solemn atmosphere and reflect on the gravity of the place you are about to visit.

2. Reservations and Guided Tours: Due to its significance, Auschwitz-Birkenau requires advance reservations, particularly for guided tours. Booking a guided tour is highly recommended as it provides valuable insights and ensures you cover the essential areas of the camp.

3. Practical Information: The camp is located near the town of Oswiecim in Poland, and various transportation options are available to reach the site. Dress modestly and wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking on gravel paths and uneven terrain.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour Experience includes two parts.

The tour typically begins at Auschwitz I, the administrative and command center of the camp. Here, you will see original buildings, including the barracks, gas chambers, and crematoria. The exhibits within the buildings offer a chilling insight into the conditions endured by prisoners.

The tour then proceeds to Birkenau, the larger part of the complex where mass exterminations took place. The vastness of the camp is overwhelming, with rows of barracks and remnants of the gas chambers and crematoria. It is a poignant reminder of the scale of the Holocaust.

It is crucial to be respectful during your visit. Please maintain a respectful demeanor. Photography is allowed in designated areas, but it is important to exercise sensitivity and refrain from inappropriate behavior. Take the time to reflect, pay your respects at the memorials, and honor the memory of the victims.

Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau is an emotional journey, but it is one that is profoundly significant and necessary. It serves as a reminder of the darkest chapters in human history and urges us to learn from the past to create a better future. Auschwitz-Birkenau serves as a profound educational tool to ensure that the atrocities committed during the Holocaust are never forgotten. The lessons learned here are vital in fostering empathy, promoting tolerance, and combating prejudice and discrimination in our society. By paying our respects at this solemn site, we honor the victims and work towards a world that embraces peace, understanding, and compassion.

[cryptosecrets]

Auschwitz anniversary marked as peace again shattered by war

Comment on this story Comment OSWIECIM, Poland — Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors and other mourners commemorated the 78th anniversary Friday of the Nazi German death camp’s liberation, some expressing horror that war has again shattered peace in Europe and the lesson of Never Again is being forgotten. The former concentration and extermination camp is located in the town of Oświęcim in southern…

[cryptoking009]

Auschwitz anniversary marked as peace again shattered by war

Comment on this story Comment OSWIECIM, Poland — Auschwitz-Birkenau survivors and other mourners commemorated the 78th anniversary Friday of the Nazi German death camp’s liberation, some expressing horror that war has again shattered peace in Europe and the lesson of Never Again is being forgotten. The former concentration and extermination camp is located in the town of Oświęcim in southern…

[mubashirnews]

Auschwitz anniversary marked as peace again shattered by war

Comment on this story Comment OSWIECIM, Poland — Survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau are gathering Friday to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp in the final months of World War II, amid the horror of war again shattering peace in Europe. The former concentration and extermination camp is located in the town of Oświęcim in southern Poland, which during…

[gamegill]

Auschwitz anniversary marked as peace again shattered by war

Comment on this story Comment OSWIECIM, Poland — Survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau are gathering Friday to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German death camp in the final months of World War II, amid the horror of war again shattering peace in Europe. The former concentration and extermination camp is located in the town of Oświęcim in southern Poland, which during…

[tea-party-at-wonderland]

President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the organisers and participants of events held as part of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 78th anniversary of the liberation of prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim) concentration camp by the Red Army.

“Today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember a dramatic moment of World War II when the Red Army liberated prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim) concentration camp. Of course, we mourn the millions of dead innocent people – Jews and people from other ethnic groups – who were shot, tortured, or died of hunger and illnesses."

"It was primarily the Soviet nation that put an end to the barbaric Nazi plans in 1945 by standing up for the freedom and independence of its motherland, saving the Jewish people and other ethnic groups from total annihilation and enslavement."

"We must clearly understand that any attempts to revise our country’s contribution to achieving the Great Victory de facto means justifying Nazi crimes and paves the way to reviving its deadly ideology. Horrible tragedies can happen again if we forget the lessons of history, as demonstrated by the crimes against civilians, ethnic cleansing and punitive operations carried out by neo-Nazis in Ukraine. It is this evil that our warriors are currently fighting courageously, shoulder to shoulder.”

(Source)

President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda.

(Source)

[poland-visa]

The most featured tourist attractions in Poland

Poland is a classical country with approx 14 UNESCO World heritage Sites and also a collection of breathtaking natural concerns including mountains, national parks, rugged coastlines and some unexpected natural wonders such as the world’s oldest salt mine. A tourist can find many tourist attractions in Poland.

With the medieval architecture and many villages that seem to be stuck in time, Poland is the perfect destination for history buffs and architecture lovers. The cities in Poland are humming with the energy of art and culture and are a great starting point to discover everything the country has to offer.

We have mentioned a list of top tourist attractions in Poland below it will help you to plan your visit according to your interests:

·         Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wieliczka

This 13th century salt mine is just as important for the locals today as it was hundreds years ago, but the reason is different now. It is one of the world’s oldest and longest-working salt mines, it stopped commercial operations in 1996 and has since become an artistic attraction for the tourists.

However the main tourist attraction inside the mine, is the Chapel of St. Kinga, which is a 12-meter-high chamber where everything – including the elaborated chandeliers and furniture – are made of salt.

·         Auschwitz – Birkenau camps, Oswiecim

There are two Auschwitz which are – Auschwitz 1 and Auschwitz 2 and both of them are a different kind of must see tourist attraction. It is located about an hour west of Krakow, these camps offer a sobering look into the past.

These camps which include over 300 barracks and hundreds other buildings and crematoriums, can only be explored as part of a guided tour.

·         Warsaw Old Market Place, Warsaw

The oldest part of Warsaw, which is known as the Old town market Place dates back to the 13th century. Despite the fact, 85 percent of the area was destroyed by the Nazis during World War second, it has since been restored to look exactly like it did when it was first built.

At the present time, the Market Square is home to many cafés and restaurants, as well as street art sellers and many souvenir stalls. The main branch of the Historical Museum of Warsaw is also located here – home to a massive art collection but also a look through history of the city and country.

·         Malbork Castle

In 13th century Teutonic castle was originally built by the Teutonic Knights, a religious order that served as a crusading military unit. Today, the castle serves as a museum, with many of its original rooms perfectly preserved. Highlights of this place include a medieval kitchen with a six-meter-wide fireplace, a collection of armor and weapons, and the knights private toilet at the top of a tower.

·         Lazienki Park, Warsaw

The park in Lazienki covers over 76 hectares of the city center, making it one of the Poland’s largest urban parks. Lazienki started life as a baths park for a nobleman in the 17th century. In present day, the palace is open to the public, as are the gardens around it.

·         Schindler’s Factory, Krakow

The Oskar Schindler’s enamel and metal factory is now famous and home for two museums. It was made famous by Steven Spielberg’s 1994 movie. A part of the building has been converted into the museum of Contemporary Art while Schindler’s former office – and much of the former factory floor – is now a branch of the historical Museum of the city of Krakow.

Nowadays it has become a popular tourist attraction in Poland for a no of travelers, as it has many creative and eye catchy antiques to watch.

·         Crooked Forest, Gryfino

The Crooked Forest is located just outside the tiny town of Gryfino, the Crooked Forest is perhaps a natural marvel that defines explanation. Here, a number of pine trees stand on their own, growing with a 90-degree angle at their base, all bent northward.

Basically it is a nice place for a quiet hike in the silence of the forest.

·         Warsaw Rising Musuem, Warsaw

This museum is dedicated to 1994’s Warsaw Uprising, where the Polish Underground Resistance fought the German occupation of their city. The uprising lasted for 63 days, with massive causalities on both sides.

Many rooms and events are exhibited here, brought through films, artifacts, recreations, and interactive displays, including replicas of the sewer tunnels used to move around the city in secret, an insurgent hospital, and a print shop where you can see posters and underground newspapers.

·         Wawel Royal Castle, Krakow

Basically it is an architecturally eclectic castle – the construction includes medieval elements mixed with Baroque and renaissance details. One of the first places to be declared as an UNESCO world heritage site in Poland, the castle has always proved to be an important part of the history of the country.

·         Morskie Oko Lake, Tatra National Park

The Morskie Oko Lake is located within the Tatra National Park and surrounded by towering mountains and Swiss pines, this lake is a favorite destination for people of all ages. Reaching it requires an easy but long paved hike all the way through shaded forests. This lake changes its color throughout the year, transforming from a deep shade of blue to a softer turquoise hue.

·         Krakow Cloth Hall, Krakow

This beautiful hall, dates back to the Renaissance, has always been the heart of international trade in Poland. During the 15th century, it was the main place for foreign merchants to gather to sell exotic spices from the East.

To buy salt from the Wieliczka Salt Mine traders from all over Europe also came here. Textiles, leather, and silk were also traded here – imported from other countries for sale and produced locally.

This is a brief of all the beautiful tourist attractions in Poland. If you are trying to plan a trip this is the best time to visit Poland with your friends or family. Easily get your Poland Visa in 3 easy steps and then pack your bags with all the necessary requirements to experience the best family holiday of your life. Don’t forget to capture the beautiful memories.