"A Place Better Known By Another Name " a Oswiecim Travel Page by DrexlUK

Seized by the Nazi's after the invasion of Poland, Oswiecim is a small (40,000+) town some 50K to the west of Krakow. Sadly best known as the site of the Third Reich's most notorious concentration/death camp, Oswiecim is better known worldwide by it's German name - Auschwitz. The camps are now a museum (Auschwitz 1) and a memorial (Birkenau.) The infamous slogan shown in the picture still hangs over the entrance to the museum.

The largest site of the Auschwitz complex. The 'arch' is still an ominous sight as you approach the entrance. You can climb the stairs to the guard tower and view the whole camp - the sight is sobering as the vast camp stretches out before you. The camp is virtually as it was at the time of liberation aside from the memorial at the back of the site and some restoration work to the remaining wooden barracks. Small plaques label the items and places of interest. The 'Sauna' building at the back of the camp is home to the disturbing 'wall of photos' and the feeling at the far end of the camp, near this building, on a cold winter's day is one of extreme loneliness.
(*Please see my gallery page for more photos from the museum*)