I Want To Go to Auschwitz

Discussion in 'Poland' started by markinbelfast, Oct 18, 2004.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    James,

    I spoke to one of the people from Poland today who was present when I had the convo with the Polish chap....I've not seen him since. She told me the camp was Lublin, Majdanek.

    If I ever see him again (I'm hoping tomorrow) I'll mention it again. He was quite upset just mentioning the name of the place so he may not wish to talk about it.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  2. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    I can't say I blame him Andy - Lublin was "cleared" the scene of much killing and Majdanek was the only extermination centre to be captured more or less intact - on the strength of that failure Himmler made sure than Birkenau's gas chambers were destroyed.

    Odilo Globocnik
    Odilo Globocnik , a man who cast his bloody shadow over Lublin.

    Below , from Mark Yerger's "Allgemeine -SS" , a note about "Globus"- a murderer and a thief.
    Had he not taken his own life he would certainly have been in the dock at at Nuremberg.

    Operation Reinhard (Einsatz Reinhard)

    Trawniki: Chronology

    Majdanek: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

    Hamburg Police Battalions during the Second World War

    Also see Christopher Browning's "Ordinary Men" which tells the history of the above unit.
     

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  3. Steve G

    Steve G Senior Member

    Also see Christopher Browning's "Ordinary Men" which tells the history of the above unit.


    Seconded! A 'great read' ~ if such subject matter can bear such a description? Either way, a well put together book.

    May I further suggest, for 'Auschwitz', the BBC / Laurence Rees produced DVD twin set; " Auschwitz; The Nazis & The Final Solution ". Probably one of the best things I'll ever get to watch. Simply can't fault it.

    I also have here " The Holocaust ~ Shame of a Nation ". 3 disc set. Disc one covers the liberation of Auschwitz. Two and three go on to examine Dachau & Sachsenhausen. Three is Ravensbruck & Buchenwald.

    I haven't watched it yet. These things need to be paced. Watching an entire disc of 'Auschwitz' at a single sitting nearly destroyed me :(

    :poppy:
     
  4. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Thinking of Auschwitz- Birkenau two other decent books.
    "The Auschwitz Album" ( Yad Vashem) and "The Commanders of Auschwitz" by J Dixon - this details the careers of the officers who passed through Auschwitz-Birkenau - quite a few faces who turn up on British film footage of Belsen-Bergen came via Auschwitz -Birkenau.

    [​IMG]

    Hoss looking as he feels.

    [​IMG]

    Kramer , the NCO with the drawn pistol - I do believe he would have shot him had he "tried anything".

    [​IMG]

    Franz Hossler from the film footage of hims standing in front of the dead of Belsen he was later executed.

    [​IMG]

    Hossler again looking rather average , the one time cook , guard , head of the womens camp in Birkenau - admitted to making "selections" also convicted of executing prisoners.
     
    Steve G likes this.
  5. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    I'm planning on taking Kelley yo Auschwitz in September. From what I'm reading so far, Warsaw is the best place to fly to first, then get a train to Kracow and bus to Auschwitz.

    Can anyone recommend a good tour operator to book with?

    cheers.
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  7. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Cheers Owen. Didn't think of that.

    I'll have a look. I'm taking her for her birthday. What a birthday treat eh? :)
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Krakow is ment to be a nicer place than Warsaw but I believe the rather beautiful square in the centre of the town with its bars and restuarants has been taken over by Hen and Stag do's.
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  10. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Marcus, I would beware of tours , my sister was in Auschwitz earlier this year and went on a tour which she booked in Krackow - she saw Auschwitz and got through the gate of Birkenau before being herded back on to the bus to go , she got nowhere near Kremas 2,3,4,5., , nowhere near Kanada, the central sauna , saw nothing of the womens camp and saw only the reconstructed barracks to the right of the man gate , she was not shown the arrivals ramp either that of mid-late 44 or that which was used earlier.

    You may miss seeing where the entire extermination process took place in Birkenau , the ponds were the ashes of some of thse murdered were dumped , the birch wood were people waited - te human aspect of what took place may be totally overlooked, taking people to Auschwitz 1 is a cheap easy option - very undemanding on the tour opeators.
    Most of her day was in Auschwitz 1 and she came away feeling short changed in view of what I had told her to look for in Birkenau .
    In short her tour took her to Auschwitz but it ignored Birkenau.

    If you can travel there and back by train and do the camps on your own, tours may be easier but they have down sides.
     
  11. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Cheers Owen. Much appreciated.
     
  12. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Cheers for the heads up James.

    I would rather just go at my own leisure rather than have someone herding me around.

    It seems like a rather complicated trip to arrange but I'm sure I'll get there.

    I'll keep you all posted. :)

    cheers.
     
  13. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    I'm planning on taking Kelley yo Auschwitz in September. From what I'm reading so far, Warsaw is the best place to fly to first, then get a train to Kracow and bus to Auschwitz.

    Can anyone recommend a good tour operator to book with?

    cheers.

    Krakow, is 1m times nicer than Warsaw, although the uprising museum in Warsaw is something to be seen.

    be careful about getting a train at the weekend as they take 6 hours between the two, instead of the commuter trains during the week.

    Dont bother with a guide, just make your way to Krakow Buststaion behind the railway station and get the bus from there for a few quid, with free shuttle bus between the camp sites.

    It is definatley a full day job, and you will love Krakow old square.

    Hotel wise, ive stayed at the Holiday Inn twice and find it more than adequate and handy for everything too

    P
     
  14. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    Cheers Phil. All these little snippets of info are more than handy.

    Nice one.
     
  15. marcus69x

    marcus69x I love WW2 meah!!!

    If anyone else is interested, we're planning it for mid september if you want to come.
     

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