Auschwitz Birkenau gate (Auschwitz gate of death)
Overview
The Gate of Death at Birkenau is not only a symbol of human suffering but also a warning to future generations to never forget the dark times that took place in the 20th century
Anyone who ever came to the former Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp surrounded by a barbed wire fence, had to first pass through the main entrance gate known as the "Gate of Death". The name is not accidental. It was in the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Birkenau that the overwhelming number of KL Auschwitz victims died - over a million people, Jews, Poles, Gypsies, as well as Soviet prisoners of war and prisoners of other nationalities. The vast majority, as much as 90% of the victims, were Jews.The contemporary shape of the Auschwitz Birkenau Death Gate comes from 1943. The direct railway line under the crossing was not built until the spring of 1944. Above the gate, through which the railway track runs today, there is a two-story watchtower. From its windows you can see the panorama of the former camp. Inside, however, there are still single-storey buildings made of raw brick and the main guardhouse of the camp.
The Birkenau Death Gate is located on the site of the former Auschwitz II concentration camp and is part of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
Contact
Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau
ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 20
32-603 Oświęcim
33 844 8000
www.auschwitz.org
Location
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Plan your visit
View all "Plan your visit"Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Skip the line ticket - guided tour
Entry ticket
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Skip the line ticket - guided tour
Book tickets and visit Auschwitz-Birkenau without queuing. The offer includes a tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex with a licenced guide-educator without having to wait in a queue at the ticket office or worry about ticket availability. For individuals who wish to visit Auschwitz I and Birkenau but prefer not to travel in an organized group, skip-the-line tickets offer a convenient way to obtain a personalized entry pass easily
Duration: 4h
Live guide
Skip-theLine
Transportation included
From
115 zł
per person
Take a guided tour of the most important historical place in Poland and in the world. Auschwitz was a witness to disturbing events that left their mark on the history of mankind. Embark on a poignant journey from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau, exploring the harrowing history of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau with a knowledgeable local guide, and make the most of your stay in Krakow with a well-organized day trip.
Duration: 7hLive guideSkip-theLineTransportation includedFrom
200 zł
per person
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FAQ
Auschwitz-Birkenau is located in the village of Brzezinka, 2 km from Oświęcim.
These are German names for Polish towns:
Auschwitz-Oświęcim
Birkenau-Wieliczka
Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau along with the surrounding Protection Zone were inscribed on the World Heritage List as evidence of the murderous nature of the anti-Semitic and racist policies of the Nazis, a testimony to the inhuman treatment and deprivation of human dignity, which led to the murder of almost 90% of the Jewish people.
According to estimates by historians from Auschwitz (and its sub-camps - the main extermination center was Birkenau), between 1 and 1.5 million people died. Most of them, i.e. about 1-1.35 million, were Jews.