If you are a fan of history and love books, movies, newspapers, or stories, then you should definitely read this article. Not everyone, unfortunately, had the opportunity to see the Auschwitz Museum with their own eyes, and such works of literature can convey a lot of knowledge.
Trip to Auschwitz
Of course, it is best to go on an organized trip to Auschwitz to see and experience with your own eyes the tragedy that took place there. Allow yourself to be carried away by an imagination that is breathtaking and chilling. The view really can put you in a daze. When going there, check first the accessibility and availability of tickets.
Getting to Auschwitz Museum
The remains of the Nazi concentration camp are located near Oświęcim, which is easily accessible from Krakow and Katowice. You can take organized public transport such as buses, vans or trains that run regularly back and forth. If you are going there in your own car, using GPS you will surely find your way there without any problems, and there will be a parking lot waiting for you on-site.
Organized tours
KrakowDirect organizes thrilling and informative group tours from Krakow to the Auschwitz Museum. To go on such a tour, you must reserve the necessary number of seats in advance. The price of this tour includes comfortable transportation from and to Krakow, a fee for the guide, entrance tickets, and driver. If you want to really make good use of this visit, such an organized tour is for you.
Popular books about the tragedy in Auschwitz
At the very thought of Holocaust literature, maybe not everyone has good and positive thoughts. However, it is quite a popular topic, as it turns out because a person likes to know his history and find out the truth, and such texts just present it to us. Literature depicting the times of the Second World War has formed all over the world and some books are breaking records of popularity, even among the young audience.
Here are 5 interesting positions, which are worth taking a look at:
1. Girls from Auschwitz – Sylwia Winnick
This book tells the story of women, who had to cope alone in the camp, with their problems. Relations between men and women were very different. The author describes what life was like for young mothers, who not once had to hide their infants, in what horrible conditions childbirth took place, and what general disrespect there was towards the female part of the prisoners. Women were massively raped, beaten, and abused. This book really shows how much women’s rights and equality make in today’s world.
2. Holocaust. True Stories of Survivors – Lyn Smith
This text of literature presents true stories that took place in human history. A text is full of hatred, cruelty, and bestiality towards another human being. All the inhumane behavior of the guards towards people who were not German was so cathartic and sadistic as to be unbelievable. Reading this work, it is hard to imagine that a human being is capable of such acts.
3. Medalions – Zofia Nałkowska
A simple, seemingly banal message that leads a person to a different reality. These short stories are so blunt and true that you can’t stop reading this work. Through the mouths of the victims and first-hand stories, the author conveys the true stories of everyday life in World War II.
4. Goodnight, Auschwitz. Reportage about former prisoners – Aleksandra Wójcik, Maciej Zdziarski
This is an excellent non-fiction reportage featuring interviews and stories from people who survived the cruel drama at the Nazi camp. More than 70 years have passed since this tragedy ended. Some survivors are still among us, and the authors of this reportage decided to take advantage of these last moments, but record their words and memories. It is truly worth reading.
5. I survived Oświęcim – Krystyna Żywulska
The author of this work was born in 1914 as a girl named Sonia Landau. During the occupation, in 1941, she and her family were moved to the Warsaw ghetto. After a successful escape from the ghetto, as a native Polish woman, she was detained on the Aryan side in Warsaw for her assistance to Jews. She was later sent to Auschwitz. In this book, she describes her memories and experiences from that time.
Film adaptations with images of war
If you are not a fan of text and literature, then you will certainly better assimilate film works that show real images and depictions of the Holocaust. Many literary works have just been turned into wonderful movie adaptations, with incredible acclaim around the world. Let’s take a closer look at some items worth recommending, for small and large audiences.
Here are the top 5 movie suggestions:
1. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
This is an amazing story, showing a friendship that could not have happened in those days. It moves you to tears and makes your heart beat faster. Two boys, coming from totally two worlds. One wire fence and the great power of a German family. The meeting of two sons gives a picture of the inequality and tragedy of those times.
2. The Pianist
This film is based on the biography of Polish composer Władysław Szpilman. This work has won as many as three Oscars and is known worldwide. During World War II, the famous Polish pianist tries to fight for survival in the then-occupied Warsaw.
3. Schindler’s List
Residents of Krakow are certainly intimately familiar with the story of the incredible Oskar Schindler, who saved as many as 1,100 Jews from being sentenced to a concentration camp during World War II. Not only the movie is worth your attention, but it is also worth going to the Museum located in the Podgórze district of Krakow.
4. The Fall of
The film depicts the times when Berlin is in decline. Hitler himself and his loyal associates are hiding in the basement of the Third Reich Chancellery. The film depicts the last 12 days of Hitler’s life and is based on the memoirs of his personal secretary. It perfectly shows his mental nature.
5. Life is beautiful
The film shows how Guido, locked up in one of the concentration camps, along with his son, tries to convince him that the cruel reality surrounding them at the time is just a form of adult entertainment. Unfortunately, the truth was quite different.
