Have you ever wonder why travelling is so important? Sure you have a great fun by knowing new people and places. An important reason is knowledge that you are gaining while being on tour. But in many cases it can`t be fun in a common meaning. Especially when it comes to such places which are important for human kind and must be visited even if they could bring tears to our eyes.
Auschwitz`s sad history is strictly connected with Second World War and German plan of extermination of Jews. Nearby the town which is called Oswiecim (in Polish, Auschwitz in German) Nazis established the complex of concentration camps that brought its name from the town. Millions of people died there because of starvation, forced labour or `medical` experiments. But most of them were killed in gas chambers. Among them were not only Jews but also Poles and Gypsies The size of tragedy was a reason why it became a well-known symbol of terror and Holocaust, and appeared on UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Originally it was established for Polish political prisoners. But soon it showed it`s real aim and became an implement to the Nazi policy of spoliation, degradation and extermination of the Jews. It consists of three camps. Auschwitz I was the administrative centre for the whole complex. First one who lived there were Polish intellectuals and so-called `anti-social elements` as for example homosexuals. The experiments on people were continued all the time. Auschwitz II (also called Birkenau) is commonly mislead with Auschwitz I, or just named `Auschwitz`. Birkenau was the main camp, much bigger than Auschwitz I, more people passed through its gates and more died. This was the place where the gas chambers were located and crematoria. Forced labour were in Auschwitz III which is called the satellite.
In 1945 the camp was liberated and the whole world known the horrible tragedy that happened near Auschwitz. And till this day there are still facts that aren`t sure as for example the amount of people who died there. Also a common misleading is saying that Auschwitz was `Polish Concentration Camp` just because it was established in Poland. The activity of polish government brought results in 2007, where `Auschwitz Concentration Camp` changed its name for `Auschwitz Birkenau. German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp`.
Many survivors of Auschwitz Concentration Camp and their families are still travelling to this place. For those people it almost became a tradition to visit Auschwitz every year to show their memory about those who died there. People who aren`t emotionally connected with this place come to visit and spend few hours on Auschwitz tours just to know and understand what happened here over 60 years ago.