PLASZOW CONCENTRATION CAMP TODAY I’ve visited Krakow and Plaszow in May 2018. The former labor and concentration camp became well-known due to “Schindler’s list” movie. In this detailed material, I would like to thoroughly describe an extensive walking tour with the history of each of more than 20 sites on the territory of Plaszow, with my 100+ photos and personal account. Main gate, SS-strasse, Grey House, Liban quarry, Amon Goeth’s villa, Hujeva Gorka etc. Plaszow concentration camp today (2018): Complete tour
Thanks for sharing. I was also there in August. Strangely, in a lot of ways I found it more personally moving than my visit to Auschwitz.
Thanks. Excellent website. The map that combines the plan of the camp with the current Google Map of the area is particularly good.
Thank you for feedback. I've experienced the same. Krakow ghetto and Plaszow were more personal for me, although I've read a number of books about Auschwitz. As for Auschwitz, the only article from Poland I still doubt would be interesting to people is "sites around the Birkenau", outer the fence. Still, maybe I will make an article as I've visited a number of them.
Thank you. I've visualized this map for my article on the day when bought tickets to Poland. In fact, it was a bit of challenge to mix it within the Photoshop as to the differences of the scaling.
The sheer scale of Auschwitz/Birkenau makes it difficult to really take in - the sheer number of people visiting coupled with the speed the tour guides move you around the site makes it difficult to really comprehend. I am a History teacher and have taught about the Holocaust for many years so to me the tour felt like it barely scraped the surface of the horrors committed there. To get to Plaszow my wife and I walked from the centre of Kraków through the old ghetto and Plac Zgody, up to the Krakus Mound and from there down past the quarry and through the woods to the edge of the camp - google maps wasn’t giving me good directions so I think we definitely took the road less travelled! My journey, coupled with the self guided nature of the camp trail made my visit feel almost as if I’d uncovered the place myself. The lack of other visitors apart from a few locals walking dogs made for a much more somber atmosphere. Apart from the lack of peoplettoyr buses and people there was also the lack of gift shops and food stands (which felt a little tacky at Auschwitz) My one regret was that my phone ran out of battery as I walked the trail around the site - there was a beautiful sunset as I reached the huge monument at C dolek. Later I sat on the bench next to Hujowa Górka and just reflected on the many poor souls who had perished there. Kraków is a beautiful city and I hope to return one day to spend more time discovering it’s charms.
I too recently visited Krakow a few weeks ago. Sadly did not know that one could visit Plaszow -- how could I have missed that?. Lots of info about Auschwitz trips so perhaps that dominates. Only a couple of days in Krakow as we were joining a trip to Lamsdorf, but did visit the site of Schindler's factory. A very well presented museum, not only about the Jewish experience but about the privations of the rest of the population - like the execution of teachers and university professors and no education for those over 8 years old as in the thousand year reich the people would be needed only for basic work and needed only basic skills! I found the whole experience in Krakow and Lamsdorf very moving. I have since read the book, originally called Schindler's Ark and always thought it was a poor show when subsequent editions were renamed to reflect the film. But on reading the book think it is a better title as the whole management of the ghetto, camps, forced labour etc was based on a system of list making. If you haven't read the book do -- much more insightful than the film. I will definitely be returning to Krakow.