This is a tad premature as nothing is organised yet. However, I am hoping to visit Sobibor and Auschwitz sometime next year and I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice? Maybe you have been there yourself or know the areas? I will be taking my son who is 2 so will be looking for child friendly accomodation and wont be able to hire a car to get about, so any tips will be gratefully recieved. Who's been to either place and what did you think? Cheers.
Sorry, not visited any camps but seen several films on the subject. Did visit Anne Frank house a couple of times in 1988 and 1989 though. Here´s a site with pics now and back then plus other info. http://holocaust-info.dk/ I hope the other members could help you!
Thanks Kai-Petri your link was most helpful. Despite searching the web, sometimes the best sites can only be found when recommended, so your help is appreciated, cheers.
I visited Auschwitz back in 1976 when Poland was still Communist. Many of the helpers there were former inmates. I doubt that there are many of those left now. This is certainly not a pleasant place to go to but you must see it if you have a chance. Your 2 year old will not have any idea what its about but an older child might not like it very much. The main camp was not open for visits when I went there. I don't know if has been opened now. Back then it was not maintained at all and I would expect the buildings are not in good shape. Nearly 30 years later, I wonder what the condition of Auschwitz is but I don't really have any intention or desire to return. It's not a nice place.
theres almost nothing in Sobobor now. after Reinchard Aktion ( 3 camps on Bug River)and biggest escape from that Camp Germans closed the camp ( after they gassed 250 000 Jews) The uprising in Sobibor represented one of the most heroic pages in the anti-fascist resistance in World War II, as well as in Holocaust history as a whole. It was unique in its plan and execution and in successfully eliminating most of the SS staff in the camp. As a result, the camp was closed. The area was plowed under and a Ukrainian Guard settled at the site. On another level, the Sobibor Uprising had more far reaching and tragic repercussions. On October 19, 1943 the Sobibor Revolt was discussed extensively at a meeting held in Governor General Hans Frank's mansion in Krakow. In attendance were the Chiefs of the Security Service and Police in the Generalgouvernement. Citing Sobibor as an example of danger they decided to accelerate the liquidation of the remaining Jews in camps in Lublin area. Himmler immediately ordered SS General Friedrich Krueger to carry out this policy. Twenty days after the revolt, on November 3, 1943, under the code-name Erntefest (Harvest Festival), the liquidation began. The results were staggering: 10,000 Jews were killed at Trawniki, 18,000 at Majdanek and an additional 15,000 in other camps; a total of 43,000 killed in six days.
I am hoping to visit Auschwitz too when I go to Krakow in September, although I was told it costs about £30 to visit, why is it so expensive? Phil
visit at the Auschwitz KC Museum is free but If You want to have a special guide tour You pay for that. check it out for Yourself: http://www.auschwitz.org.pl/html/eng/zwiedzanie/index.html
