(8) Poland

A perspective change is always good. It can keep a person in check, and it can help to create a more open mindset. Sometimes these changes are small, but many times they can be life changing. Visiting Krakow this weekend was one of those experiences. I was able to view a city that was not destroyed during World War 2, and that is absolutely beautiful in its architecture and culture. 

Our first moments in Krakow were filled with eye appeal. The architecture was similar to Olomouc, but had more clean feeling. The street layouts actually made sense compared to many other European cities. This is because other European cities did not have an organized street plan; instead they were designed around a city square. Other than that, there was no rhyme or reason for the cities' design. Fortunately Krakow seemed organized. 

Our first day in Krakow was partially filled with the history of the nearby castle and the Schindler’s museum. However, the second day, Auschwitz, was the most intense experience of the Poland trip, if not the entire study abroad trip. Throughout high school I had been educated on some of the events during the World War 2 and the Holocaust. This included reading “Night” by Ellie Wiesel, a survivor of the Holocaust and a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his efforts post World War 2. 

When we entered Auschwitz and saw the original sign saying “work will make you free”, which was still standing at the entrance. I can only imagine what the Jews and other minorities thought. It is a menacing sign that offers the hope of freedom, but only through suffering. Obviously now I know that this was one of the many mind games Nazi Germany used to control their victims. One of the first items we were shown on our guided tour was of an urn, which is the last of the victims. It was a shame to see that such a small urn was meant to represent so many of the lives lost. It was another reminder of the efforts the Nazis used to hide their concentration camps, disposing of all possible human remains, so all that was found when Auschwitz was liberated was a small amount of human ashes.

The next pictures shown are recreations of what the prisoners had to go through when entering the gas chambers. On the left the prisoners would enter the undressing room and were told to take off their clothes. The Nazi’s would tell the prisoners to remember where their clothes were so as to convince them that nothing was going to happen to them, except for a shower. In the next room, fake shower fixtures were hung to make it seem like a real shower room. Finally, the room holding with over 2,000 people, would be filled with Zyklon B gas. This type of mass killing was used at Auschwitz-one until 1943.

The map next to our tour guide depicts how Auschwitz-two (Birkenau) was built for faster extermination of the Jewish population. Birkenau, housed approximately four times as many prisoners, and was used in 1944. The rest of the tour was a description of the deplorable living conditions the prisoners were exposed to as well as the violent treatment outside of the gas chambers. Some of the most unimaginable treatment was used. Never had I felt so fortunate in my life, and wanted to take back every complaint I had ever had. 

Our last bit of the tour was at Auschwitz-two, Birkenau. This tour showed us the living conditions at the larger camp, and how mass executions were carried out on a larger scale. The picture below is one of the gas chambers the Nazis used, but was destroyed a week before the liberation of the camp. In the picture shown, you can see the hall, which the prisoners had to walk down before entering the gas chamber. An eerie feeling of past victims was still present.

Although this blog was graphic, I believe it is necessary to be aware of the past. These events could have been hidden from history had it not been for the liberation efforts of multiple military groups. Thankfully, historical sights such as this can educate society, and create a global effort for a better future. the picture below shows the memorial at Birkenau.