Famous Concentration Camps in Poland

Are you planning to visit the concentration camps in Poland? But are not sure what to expect, how to get there, and which tour to choose? This blog will answer your questions. So read on!!

A brief history: During the Second World War there were hundreds of camps across Europe run by the German Nazis. As they conquered new territory they created new camps, but it was in Poland where they created the most horrific and notorious ones. Some served as hard labour camps, while others had only one purpose i.e. for mass murders.

During this period there were about 457 camp complexes across Poland. But in the fall of 1941, Hitler had planned ‘Operation Reinhard or Operation Reinhardt’. A plan to murder all the Jews of Europe and was called ‘The Final Solution to the Jewish Question.’

By the end of 1941, six concentration camps in Poland were shortlisted to carry out the ‘Final Solution’. These were Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor, and Treblinka.

Industrial units in Germany provided equipment to build the gas chambers and crematoria ovens in these camps. The gas chambers were used for mass murders, while the ovens were used to burn the bodies.

Let’s look at the six famous concentration camps you can visit during your trip to Poland.

Auschwitz

For ages, Oświęcim was a sleepy village largely bypassed by world events. All this changed with World War II when Oświęcim was known as ‘Auschwitz’ under German occupation. It became the chosen place for the largest concentration and death camp where more than 1.5 million people were killed, engraving its name forever into history books.

As you reach Auschwitz camp, a gate reads ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ which means ‘Work will make you free. Auschwitz has two main areas — Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II — Birkenau. Auschwitz — I opened in 1940 as a detention centre to hold political prisoners and later became the biggest concentration camp in Poland where mass killings were carried out. Auschwitz II- Birkenau was opened in 1941 to keep up with a large number of political prisoners and Jews that were being deported to Auschwitz. It became free in 1945 after the arrival of the Soviet troops.

During this tour, you will visit the museum, exhibition hall, and memorials of Auschwitz — I. Followed by, a tour of the original camp buildings at Birkenau, including the prisoner barracks, gas chamber, and crematoriums.

Time Required: 3.5 hours.

Belzec

The operations of this concentration camp in Poland began in March 1942 and ended in December 1942. In a period of 10 months, more than 500,000 people were murdered in this specially built death camp.

This camp was dubbed as a ‘Killing Factory’, just like Treblinka and Sobibor. The camp was divided into three parts i.e. the control centre, barracks and storage of plundered goods, and execution section with six gas chambers. When its purpose was served the Nazi’s demolished the site and gave it a makeover to hide their atrocities from the world.

During this tour, you will get a chance to explore a museum and an open-air memorial.

Time required: 2 hours.

Chelmno

This concentration camp in Poland became famous for the first set of mass murders that took place in December of 1941. It’s here the Nazis murdered about 700 Jews using car exhaust fumes.

This camp was widely recognized as a place where experiments in mass murder were carried out on the inmates, and successful ones were later applied in other death camps. The camp operated until 1945 and the estimated death toll was between 150,000 and 200,000 mostly Jews from Poland.

During your visit, you can explore the palace which or manor was used as the prison, and the memorial site in the Rzuchów forest where the mass graves were located. Visiting the museum will get you acquainted with historical collections, a number of ground relics of the past and personal belongings which document the history of the camp.

Time required: 1.5 hours.

Majdanek

This concentration camp in Poland was established in 1941 by the decision of Henrich Himmler. At first, it was designed to keep Soviet war prisoners, but finally, in 1943 it was converted into a death camp where more than 360,000 people (mostly Polish and Jews) lost their lives.

The tragic history of the camp came to an end in 1944 after the Red army entered the city. The camp remained intact because the Nazi’s could not destroy or cover up their war crimes; hence this camp offers a unique insight to their brutal regime.

During this tour, you’ll be taken back into time i.e. World War II to see the history of this camp and stories of those who lived through it. See the gas chambers, showers, crematoriums, mausoleum, exhibition in barrack 62, and photographic display in barracks 45 where victims from nearly 30 countries lost their lives.

Time required: 2 hours.

Sobibor

This concentration camp in Poland was located in the woods near Sobibor village. The camp operated from May 1942 until October 1943, and its gas chambers killed nearly 250,000, Jews mostly from Poland and the Soviet Union.

In October 1943, a revolt broke out in this camp. Several SS officers and guards got killed and over 300 inmates who took part in the rebellion managed to escape. Soon after the revolt the Nazi’s destroyed the camp. The camp remained forgotten for nearly 20 years after the war.

During the tour, you can visit a museum now located in the place of the former camp. Visit the two memorials which stand coldly in the middle of the forest.

Time required: 1 hour.

Treblinka

This concentration camp in Poland functioned from July 1942 to October 1943 for the purpose of ‘Operation Reinhardt’. Every day 15,000 people were killed in its gas chambers and Treblinka stood second to Auschwitz in the number of Jews being killed i.e. 850,000 both from Poland and Europe. The complex was divided into two parts, the labour camp (Treblinka I) and the concentration camp (Treblinka II).

During the tour, you will learn about the scale and mass murders committed by the Nazi’s. The terror techniques applied and how some smart inmates managed to survive the ordeal. Explore the museum, cemetery and monuments spread across the campgrounds and remnants of a railway track outside the camp.

Time required: 2 hours.

Visiting a concentration camp may not be a typical holiday activity, but a visit is important for us to learn about our history and to save humanity from repeating the same mistakes. If you are interested in the history of the holocaust then take this tour during your trip to Poland.

Have you visited any of the concentration camps in Poland? Do you want to share your experience? Or are you planning a trip and have a few questions? Please feel free to reply or comment.