Auschwitz - Birkenau Concentration Camp

The Auschwitz - Birkenau Camps were the biggest ones ever created by German Nazis.
WWII began with the German attack on Poland that took place on 1st September 1939. On 17th September according to the Ribbentrop - Molotov Pact Russians invaded Poland from the East. The fourth partition of Poland took place.
Germans gave one part of Polish theritory to Soviets, another one incorporated to the Third Reich, and from the remaining decided to create a state called General Government totally depending on the Third Reich. Hans Frank was a head of this strange state and lived in Krakow, on Wawel Hill where once Polish Kings and Queens lived.
Oświęcim is one of the oldest Polish towns with its history of more than 800 years. When the WWII started, German Nazis decided to incorporate the town to the Third Reich. They also changed its name for Auschwitz.
Auschwitz Tour details

  • The Railroad Entrance to BirkenauThe Railroad Entrance to Birkenau
  • The Watchtower in BirkenauThe Watchtower in Birkenau
  • 'Arbeit Macht Frei' - entrance to Auschwitz 'Arbeit Macht Frei' - entrance to Auschwitz
  • The Wires of BirkenauThe Wires of Birkenau


When decision of creating the camp was taken in 1940, it was planned to use buildings that once belonged to the Polish Army. First transport that consisted of 728 Polish prisoners arrived from Tarnow on 14th June 1940.
In 1941 Auschwitz II Birkenau camp was started to be constructed on spot of Brzezinka village, named Birkenau at the beginning of WWII.
In September of 1941 Germans for the first time used Cyclon B gas - making a horrible try on 600 Soviet war prisoners and 250 Poles taken from camp hospital to the cellars of Block No 11 in Auschwitz I Camp.
Later on this method became the main one used by German Nazis in Auschwitz to kill Jews.
Decision regarding extermination of Jews was taken in Berlin - Wansee in January 1942, even if the first Jewish transports arrived to Auschwitz earlier.
During the WWII in Auschwitz (Germans created 40 sub-camps that depended on the main one) there were murdered one million four hundred people, among whom 90% were Jews coming from different European countries. We will never learn the exact number of victims since the majority of them died immediately after arrival in gas chambers without becoming camp prisoners.

Auschwitz - Birkenau Camps are Museums since 1947 and are on the UNESCO List since 1979.