Auschwitz had for a long time been a German name for Oświęcim, the town  around which the camps were located; the name "Auschwitz" was made the official name again by the Germans after they invaded Poland in September 1939. Birkenau, the German translation of Brzezinka (= "birch tree"), referred originally to a small Polish village that was destroyed by the Germans to make way for the camp.

Auschwitz was the site of one of humanity's most unspeakably horrifying tragedies: the systematic murder of at least 1.1 million innocent people, mainly Jews. 

From 1941 until 1945, Auschwitz, was the site of the biggest, most notorious concentration camp in the Nazi system. Today, Auschwitz is the most poignant memorial anywhere to the victims of the Holocaust. (in Oswiecim, about 80 klms west of Kraków.)

The memorial reads "a cry of despair and a warning to humanity." Since liberation day in 1945, millions have visited this place. Hopefully they take away a determination to learn from the Holocaust and never let it be repeated.

Visiting Auschwitz is a difficult and moving experience. Viewing particularly, the children's clothing and mountains of shoes and other exhibits makes for a very sombre atmosphere with people of all races and ages visibly upset. However a visit if at all possible is something not to be missed.

Auschwitz victims and their families want tourists to come here to experience the scale and the monstrosity of the place in human terms, in the hope that the Holocaust will never be forgotten.

We visited with a dear Polish friend who organised for an English speaking guide for us to really get the most understanding from our visit  to Auschwitz.

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