A question for anyone who’s been to Auschwitz

[AI41]

Are you pleased you went, or do you regret going?

We’re going to Krakow on Boxing Day for a few days, and inevitably will need to discuss whether to visit Auschwitz. I’m going with two friends and obviously they can make their own decision. One of my friends is very interested in the war so I suspect he will want to go.

I was once told by someone who visited in the 80s that he regretted going because the horror has never left him. I am erring towards not going. But other people who’ve visited said to go and they don’t regret it at all.

I went with friends when I was 20 and despite the rest of our holiday being sunny and clear, it was extremely grey, overcast and there was no bird song at all. This reflected the mood - it was incredibly sobering and I do still think about it many years later.

I am glad I went and I think it's an important thing to do if you can, but be prepared to sit in gloomy silence for the rest of the day.

I don't regret going, it is harrowing though.

There are a lot of scam trips in Krakow though so make sure you book a legit one that includes tickets and a guide. We used Krakow Direct.
Also the time you then give to you to leave won't be accurate, we booked 9am pick up and they text us day before to say pick up would be 4:30am!!

It was also a snow storm, the drive there was hairy and took twice as long as it should, I thought the bus was going to get stuck at points. Dress for the cold weather! Because when they take you to the second part of the tour it is very exposed.

I think it’s important feel the horror. And confront what went on.

I went last year. The whole thing is very respectful, not sensationalist at all and makes you think for yourself without being gratuitous. I think it’s essential you go.

If you go, book the tickets direct with Auschwitz. Other tour groups don't always have the tickets they say they have and you end up getting picked up stupidily early or not at all.

It is very easy and cheap to get the train and then it is a short walk or taxi ride to the museum/ camp.
I would also go towards to he end of your trip.

Oscar Schindler's factory is also an excellent museum.

I went a few years ago and glad we did it as awful as it was.

Its not something you will forget but we shouldn't do, horrific what happened.

Maybe. I don’t know. I do think I appreciate the scale of the horror without actually seeing the place where they were murdered. I get what you’re saying though.

I don't think you do appreciate the scale of it until you get to Birkenau.

I went to one in Poland. Wish I hadn't!

I too have been to Dachau. Its an eerie place but I don regret the experience.

Really? Why?

I went 30 years ago. The room which is full of personal possessions made me cry. When I saw the dolls it just brought it home how horrific it all was.

I agree with this.

Gosh, that's a bit young.

Glad I went, would never go again. I didn’t stop thinking about it afterwards for months

I can't imagine why you would want to go.

Eta: I think it’s important feel the horror. And confront what went on.

why? We can know what happened and be horrified without visiting with a bunch of other sightseers.

Fair enough. But it doesn't take away from the horror of the place.

I went about 30 years ago and it has never left me. Having said that, I am glad I went and I think that it is so profound and important to experience first hand.

You can’t explain it to someone who hasn’t been. There’s just no words to describe the feeling you get being there

I went with school. I would go but prepare yourself. Read up on what you'll see so you'll be somewhat prepared (as prepared as you can get for a place like that. My biggest memory is just how eerie, evil, and silent the place felt, I've never experienced that anywhere else.

@AI41

I do think I appreciate the scale of the horror without actually seeing the place where they were murdered.

I really don't think you can. I can appreciate that you might not want to go. But you really can't imagine it without being there.

I've not been to Auschwitz but I have been to Bergen-Belsen twice when I was in my twenties. It is harrowing but I think it's important to go. I went with my brother and two male friends for my second visit, all of whom were jokey, gung-ho blokes. Nobody could speak for at least an hour afterwards and I knew that would be likely so I took them to walk around a lake to have space to think and reflect. It does, rightly, stay with you for a very long time.

I went there with my then 13 year old 2 years ago. I didn't 'learn' anything I wasn't already aware of and the usual dichotomies of 'glad I went/wish I hadn't' don't really apply. It is almost beyond anything that usually applies to when you go somewhere as a tourist. I personally didn't find it that harrowing or life altering, perhaps because it was something I had read about in some depth or maybe because getting emotional about it from my position of 'tourist in Krakov' would have felt like it cheapened it somehow. It's a singular experience and I think everyone should decide for themselves whether to go and how they feel about it afterwards. I consider myself lucky that our guide was extremely strict and nobody dared put a foot out of line in terms of taking inapprpriate photos or behaving as if we were anywhere other than a mass grave. I think my daughter felt much as me. We were exhausted and very quiet after but had a nice dinner that evening and we haven't really spoken about it since.

Similar to the first poster, we (DH and I) went to Dachau. In our travel group there was a couple who both had relatives who had experienced the horrors. A few particular things weighed heavily on sight. If I had to choose that moment again and decide to go or not go, I would still go.

I’m going next month for the first time. I’m going with a friend who’s been before though. So following this thread with intrest.

Yes, this has put into words what I think really. I don’t know why I’d do it to myself.