Auschwitz

One of the reasons Rose and I went to Poland was to visit Auschwitz. We thought it was in Germany, but after some research we found that it is in Oswiecim, a small town west of Krakow. We went there on April 30, and it took just over an hour by van to get to the concentration camp.

The Polish government opened the site to the public many years after World War II. They did not want to limit anyone to visiting the museum, so there were hundreds of people waiting for a tour. Lucky for us, we booked tickets early and got in right away.

This is the main entrance to Auschwitz. It reads "Arbeit Macht Frei", which in English translates to "Work Makes One Free." To put things in perspective, this was the same gate that prisoners were registered and given their uniforms.

I was taken back by how normal the camp looked. 

We walked between the buildings that once housed victims. We didn't go through the library, kitchen or theater, but I bet they were just as depressing as the buildings.

The sign reads "Fire brigade reservoir built in the form of a swimming pool, probably in early 1944."

Here we are waiting to walk into the gas chamber, which was on the east side of the camp.

This was where they cremated the bodies after Zyklon B, a cyanide gas, was dropped into the room thorough an opening in the ceiling.

Joann Kremer, an SS doctor who oversaw the gassings, testified that "Shouting and screaming of the victims could be heard through the opening and it was clear that they fought for their lives. When they were removed, if the chamber had been very congested, as they often were, the victims were found half-squatting, their skin colored pink with red and green spots, some foaming at the mouth or bleeding at the ears."

The room was extremely cold and gave me chills. If being in there won't make you sick, I don't know what will. It was incredibly grim and depressing.