Additional Perspective at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Written by: Savanna Brown (Freshman, Psychology)

To completely encapsulate the experience of Auschwitz-Birkenau is almost impossible to do. Simply because it had a immense but vastly different impact on each person who walked across those infamous train tracks.

For me it was really intense because of the size of the camp and the fact that even though it was the largest one there were plans to expand it further. We spent about three hours walking the grounds and seeing the remains of the camp. Most of it had been destroyed in an attempt to hide the evidence, however some has been left standing, and some was reconstructed by the museum.

As we walked around it was almost a numb feeling to be in a place where so many people were brought to die, to try and imagine what it was like for them to be there. For me it got a little personal because this was the site of the children’s bunks, and having three young sisters made me imagine that if they had been in a space like this and it evoked an emotion that I was not expecting.

To imagine our family in a place of killing and torture is something no one should ever have to do. Apart from this it was amazing to see just how many people were kept at once, to go to the site of the first crematorium that was deemed inefficient in killing innocent people, and to see the ponds and meadow that at first glance seemed normal but we learned were filled with the ashes of victims.

Overall it was a hard experience and a lot to take in at once; however, it was absolutely nothing like I learned about in school. It gave a sense of realness to the event I learned about as history, but is something that should be preserved and remembered by all.

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Auschwitz II- Birkenau

By Julienne Munson (Sophomore, Department of Undergraduate Studies)

Auschwitz-Birkenau, this place is something that you can not fathom. This camp was 20 times larger compared to Auschwitz 1 and what a hike it was to walk around only a portion of it. We all walked an average of close to 7 miles and to see all of the barracks’ and exhibits took roughly 3 and a half hours to visit. Some of that time was used to take pictures.  We had time to stop and listen to the guide about what happened there, so all of it wasn’t just walking around.

The moment we got to Auschwitz-Birkenau, we instantly saw the train tracks and the main gate that the train went through to drop off the prisoners. Once at the main gate we went up to the watch tower and saw a 360 view of the surrounding area. When you faced the camp all you could see from your left were, still standing builds and some foundations. When you looked in the middle you can see the train tracks and the platform that the prisoners offloaded onto. When you looked to your right, you can see more barracks standing and more foundations. The right side of the camp went on for hundreds of meters and it seemed to look like an endless amount of barracks.

Photo by: Julienne Munson (Left side of Auschwitz-Birkenau from watch tower on top of main gate)

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by: Julienne Munson (Middle of Auschwitz-Birkenau, showing train tracks and platform were prisoners were offloaded onto)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by: Julienne Munson (Right side of Auschwitz-Birkenau from the top of the watch tower)

 

 

 

 

 

After the watch tower we went to the first building which was the toilets. Going into them made me instantly think how bad it would smell in them and how rushed everyone felt, since they only had seconds to use the latrine.
From there we saw one of the barracks. It was empty except the heating system. During the winters the heating system was never on because the lack of fuel and if it snowed the top bunk, since it was closest to the roof would be covered in snow. All I could think about was how poorly these conditions could be and how cramped it was since hundreds of prisoners would sleep in them. Afterwards we saw where the children and women would stay. And also the wash room.

Photo by: Julienne Munson (Washroom for prisons of Auschwitz II-Birkenau)

When we stood on the platform, I could envision the prisoners being rushed of the train cars, formed up and going through the selection process. The whole time I kept in the back of my head was what it would have been like if I was there. Where would I go? Would I go straight to the gas chamber? Or would I be working? I had so many thoughts of what it would have been like for me. And then I thought about the prisoners and how awful it was and how nervous it was for them.

Photo by: Julienne Munson

From there we made our way towards crematorium and gas chambers 2 though 5. All of them were destroyed by the Germans to hide evidence and the existence of what they did to the prisoners. My initial thoughts were how massive they were and how many people they killed in them. Just thinking about the Germans on top of the buildings and dropping Zyklon B down vents and watched and hearing the lives of children, women and men of all ages suffer.

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Crematory #2)

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Crematory #2)

We continued to walk the outside of the camp until we got to the other crematoriums and saw just rubble. The one spot was a small farm house foundation which was called the “White House”, behind it was an open field and a plaque that said “To the memory of men, women, and children who fell victim to the nazi genocide. Here lie their ashes. May their souls Rest In Peace.” Looking out into that field made me feel uneasy and to hear that all of their ashes once covered this land….the Nazi’s used their ashes to fertilize the land.

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Ruins of “the White House” crematory and field where human remains were scattered during the war).

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Memorial for the victims of Auschwitz)

Photo by: Julienne Munson (Field where human remains were scattered during the war)

Towards the end of the tour we came across “Canada”. This were storage buildings full of the prisoners personal belongings.

Photo by: Julienne Munson

The last place we saw was the processing center. This was where the prisoners we be washed and the clothes to be sanitized. It was like an assembly line. The would take the clothes off, rinse off, dry off the best they could, get the stripped prisoner clothes, and from there they would be put to work.

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Signage with details for the sauna “bath” processing area)

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Area where prisons began processing for the camp)

Photo by: Julienne Munson
Prisoners were quickly run through the building where they were forced to undress, be shaved, shower, sanitized with delousing powder, and finally provided with prison uniforms.

Photo by: Julienne Munson
Additional processing area

Photo by: Julienne Munson
(Showering area for prisoners)

Photo by: Julienne Munson
Additional processing area for prisoners.

Auschwitz-Birkenau was massive. And to see everything that once was a running concentration camp made things very in easy. I couldn’t even imagine what the prisoners really went through and I don’t want to ever see or feel that pain. Losing family members and seeing family members and friends go through this was very hard for all of them.

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Marian Koldziej, Labyrinth

Written by: Marissa Catteau (Junior Biochem)

“It is not an exhibition – not art, not images, but words enclosed in sketches. Besides, my intention was not to fulfil the duty of remembrance and giving testimony through art. Art is helpless when confronted with what man inflicted on another man… Approaching Auschwitz through sketches. Everyone who was in Auschwitz and survived it has been indelibly stigmatized for life with the human tragedy which took place there. I would like to give a clue to the visitor: be patient and carefully read everything written in these sketches. These are ‘words I have drawn to you’. They must be read.”
— Marian Koldziej

Marian Kolodziej’s labyrinth is simply indescribable. Marian was a man who arrived at KL Auschwitz on the first train of prisoners and survived through to liberation. 40 years after liberation, and after suffering a stroke, Marian began to draw the demons of his past. I wish I could convey to you the pain displayed in his artwork. Many of the pieces included men with hollowed faces, contorted expressions, and eyes that were filled with fear.

Photo by: Marissa Catteau

The labyrinth is much more than just a collection of Marian’s artwork. The labyrinth was deliberately laid out so that each step in the dimly lit, cold place allowed you to feel his personal Auschwitz. Each step took you through his time spent in the “Death Factory,” each step took you further into the hell that Marian lived with for the rest of his life post-liberation.

Photo by: Marissa Catteau

I cannot begin to describe how the labyrinth made me feel.  Marian Kolodziej’s artwork was beautifully horrific. He imparted so much pain in each face; each set of eyes was filled with fear that cut you to the bone. His artwork showed the demons he was living with daily; he says its his own personal Auschwitz. That statement chills me to the bone. Even after liberation, he still felt like he was in hell.

Photo by: Marissa Catteau

I have been struggling to describe how the labyrinth makes me feel. I am in awe at the true talent he had, yet I’m disgusted with the demons he carried. I am distraught with the pain I was able to see and feel though the pieces of art. Standing at the beginning of the labyrinth, I was in shock at the true horror Marian felt daily. He managed to survive from the opening of Auschwitz until its liberation – a feat not many accomplished. We hear about how awful conditions were in the camp, how difficult it was to survive, but we never really see how this affects people even 50 years later. I cannot fathom how enduring this must have tortured his soul, but after seeing these beautiful, horrifying, disturbed works of art became the only glimpse into his soul that there may be left.

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Visiting Oświęcim and Auschwitz I

Written by: Juliette Piersody (Senior Business Management/Marketing)

This post was very difficult for me to write. I am struggling to find the words to describe my experience at Auschwitz I. I want to touch on three things that really had an impact on me during this experience.

Photo taken by: Betsy Scarpaci

  1. The first thing I want to talk about is the identity of the town. Oświęcim is not Auschwitz, it is so much more than that. The town of Oświęcim is historically beautiful, with breathtaking architecture , enticing food, and amazing people. I learned that every place has history whether it is good or bad, but that is not what defines them.  It is how they overcome hard times and come out stronger and that is exactly how I feel about Oświęcim.

    Photo taken by: Juliette Piersody

  2. When I first got to the gate, I was greeted by a sign that read “Arbeit macht frei” which translates to “work sets you free” which couldn’t be more of a lie to those entering the camp. I had many raw emotions walking thought that gate. We walked in the same way thousands of prisoners did but the difference is that we were able to walk out. As we went through the camp, we got to see what it was like for the prisoners.
  3. Our last stop of the camp was the gas chamber. There will never be the right words to describe how I felt. I pictured all of the innocent people moving through a line, desperately waiting to gain some of their dignity with a shower. As I walked in, I saw the openings in the ceiling where they had false hope that water will pour out but instead, the openings would be the last breath of air they would get.Our three and a half hour tour wasn’t enough to cover all that has happened in Auschwitz.As I reflect on this experience, I cannot help but feel for those children who had their childhood stripped away from them. I mourn for all the lives that were lost at that camp and the families who were forever changed and separated. Beyond what I wrote here, there are so many more exhibits and stories that are here. No words can adequately describe this museum and the atrocities that occurred here.

Photo by: Juliette Piersody

Photo by: Juliette Piersody

 

 

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Oświęcim, Poland

Written by: Kaishla Gonzalez (Junior, Rehabilitation and Human Services)

After repacking and breakfast, day 2 in Poland has begun! Starting off with breakfast in a little place called Costa Coffee was such a good idea!!! Our trip from Krakow to Oswiecim began with a 15 minute walk from the hotel to the bus station (super exhausting).

After our 1.5 hour long bus ride, I’m glad to say that we arrived to Oswiecim. It was surprising to see where we were dropped off. It was at Auschwitz. Our hotel was located across the street, and I was shocked to see how accustomed bus drivers are to leave people at the entrance. I settled into the hotel and we got together for some lunch! Even though I’m not fond of veggies, I tried the soup, the salad, and then the lovely ice cream cake!

 

Dinner Oswiecim

We got onto a TOWOS bus (tour bus) and headed over to the main square of Oswiecim where we saw something that really stood out to me in the middle of the market square. There was an octagon shape outlined in red bricks that pointed out where a German air raid shelter used to be.

We walked over to where the great synagogue once was and was told a story by Anja that there were once hidden artifacts under the synagogue, and they later were excavated. We got a cool tour by an Austrian tour guide (Max) and got to see a Torah that was in a Torah ark. Usually, this is not allowed unless a rabbi opens it, but a couple of rabbis gave the museum permission to open it for educational purposes.

The tour of the museum ended in a small coffee shop that had gifts, books, and some lovely hot chocolate! I was so excited to drink it that I burnt my tongue!

The night ended with some great dinner chosen by Anna and a nice round of phase 10!

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