I only have 3 days to spend in Poland, and I plan to visit Auschwitz as a day trip from Krakow. Would half a day be enough? Earlier this year I visited Phnom Penh's Genocide Museum. I thought that me, being a 5th year medical student, might have been able to stomach whatever there is to stomach.
But leaving the place, I can't describe this sensation I have, like a sickness down to my bones. Horror over the atrocious monstrocity that one human being can perform on another.
Is that what to expect in Aushcwitz too? Yes, Half a day will be more than enough. I have done a similar day trip from Krakow. The guided tour will show you everywhere of importance and, to be honest, any longer in there could you leave disturbed for days.
Make sure you schedule time to sit in the square in Krakow that evening and drink a beer, eat good food and watch the world pass by to remind yourself that the evildoers didn`t win.
Then when you get home tell everyone of the horrors of the place.
The best description I can give of the emotions that run through you is to tell you that, at the end of the tour of Auschwitz 1 they point out the gallows used to hang Rudolf Hoss, the commandant of the camp.
My thought at the time was that I hoped it hurt.
On my return from Auschwitz-Birkenau I would, if I had seen him standing on the stool with a rope round his neck, have kicked that stool out from under him without a second thought or regret.
Ray
P.S. Enjoy Krakow. Beautiful city, lovely people and some of the most stunning looking women I have seen in years. Enough for the rest of your life.
You may want to stay longer, you may not. If you keep your eyes and brain open it will change your life. It is a personal issue I think. I would probably want to stay a bit longer. As someone who has been to Auschwitz I can tell you first hand nothing you can think of can compare to the horror of that place. There are two camps that make up the entire camp complex Auschwitz and Auschwitz Berkinow. I spent about 4 hours in the
main campsite known as Auschwitz and I have to tell you it was more than I could stand. We were supposed to get on a bus and goto Auschwitz Berkinow but my polish friend and I decided that we had had enough death for the day. I had no Idea that man could be so horrible to his fellow man. There were rooms filled with Human hair that the Natzi's were using to make rugs and rope with and another room filled will suitcases and trunks with family names and countries of origin. There were names from every country in Europe represented in that room.. I will never forget thoes things. So
to answer you question yes half a day will be plenty to see all the death and evil you can stand. P.S. Krakow is my fav place on earth. czesc im polish and i hate all that historic places so i would have enough for about 1 hour or even 30 minutes its just not for me
ive been there a lot of times when i was in school in poland on school trips If you visit Auschwitz, it will be one of the most sensations for you ever. I spent few hours there, with guide, and.... I couldn't be normal after visiting that place. Now I'm not normal yet.
In fact, half a day is enough, I think.
Auschwitz is a worth place to visit, for sure.
Be prepared well for a shock. Been there twice (once as a kid with a school trip, once as an adult running a guided tour for a group of high-school youngs) and that was at least one time to much.
IMO half a day is more than enough. And better have something neutral planned for the other half of the day, as you're likely to be under impression of the death camp, and pretty depressed (I was, every time). So, you'll need something to keep your spirit up afterways.
Yet not something too important, in case you feel you aren't in mood for anything else that day. It depends. IMO you should stay there a bit longer. Remember that there are actually two places . Auschwitz and Birkenau (Brzezinka). They are not too far away (about 2 km).
Just remember to behave well and respect those who died there.
Take care,
Kempos | 