It is a moving experience to visit this modern symbol of the suffering that took place in Europe during the Nazi’s reign of terror. Auschwitz is one of the most brutal concentration camps built at that time. One of the most brutal of all time. It is said that almost half of those who were murdered by the Germans during World War II were ‘processed’ through Auschwitz. This monument stands today as a reminder of the kind of cruelty that humans are capable of imposing on one another, and as a warning to future generations about how corrupting and inhuman power can become.
Visiting Auschwitz is a peek into modern history, but also a solemn occasion to reflect.
Why Go to Auschwitz
The quiet Polish town called Oświęcim was witness to more horrors than it may be willing to recount or remember. It is one thing to learn about the atrocities by the hand of foreign oppressors that took place here, but it is quite another to see it in person.
The statistics and numbers that we all learn about in regards to World War II take on a whole new meaning when visiting the concentration camps, and suddenly a seemingly distant historical account becomes part of reality in front of your eyes. You will see the shoes, suitcases, and other personal belongings of the men, women, and children that were killed in these camps.
Clearly, the education that one receives when visiting Auschwitz is far more than what the majority of us learned in school about World War II. Seeing the actual place where the Nazis persecuted and killed so many Jews, Polish people, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and some minority groups make history really come alive, and may make you appreciate the life that you lead.
How to Get to Auschwitz
If you’re coming from Krakow, you can get to the town of Oświęcim by train. The trip will last about two hours, depending on the train, and will cost about 8.50zł. From the Oświęcim train station, take bus numbers 24-29 to get to Auschwitz I for about 3zł. Buses are also available directly from Krakow and will cost about 10-12 zł. Once in Auschwitz I, you can catch one of the many shuttle buses between that and Auschwitz II.
