Auschwitz-Birkenau

I visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in the town of Oswiecim as a day trip from Kraków on the 25th of August 2010 and what follows are some of the photographs I took while I was there.

The railway station at Oswiecim ("Auschwitz" in German). — The railway station at Oswiecim (“Auschwitz” in German).

The electric fence around the Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration camp.

Barracks in Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

The gate and railroad at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Path that bisects the Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.

Guard tower and barracks.

Remains of a crematorium at Auschwitz II-Birkenau; it was demolished by the Nazis in an attempt to cover up their crimes.

The end of the railroad line in Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Pond of ashes in Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Birch trees on the edge of Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Aerial photo of Auschwitz II-Birkenau taken during World War II.

More barracks at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

Looking through the barbed wire at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.

The infamous "Arbeit macht frei" sign over the entrance to the Auschwitz I concentration camp - this is a replica since the original was stolen the year before. — The infamous “Arbeit macht frei” sign over the entrance to the Auschwitz I concentration camp – this is a replica since the original was stolen the year before.

Buildings in Auschwitz I.

Pile of victims' eyeglasses on display in the museum in Auschwitz I. — Pile of victims’ eyeglasses on display in the museum in Auschwitz I.

Closeup of a prisoner's identification number and symbol (signifying the reason for imprisonment) on a uniform on display in the Auschwitz I museum. — Closeup of a prisoner’s identification number and symbol (signifying the reason for imprisonment) on a uniform on display in the Auschwitz I museum.

An example of the type of "beds" the prisoners had to sleep on. — An example of the type of “beds” the prisoners had to sleep on.

A tower and electric fences at Auschwitz I.

Interior of the crematorium at Auschwitz I.

A sign warning about the electric fence surrounding Auschwitz I. It reads: "Danger! High voltage. Will cause death." — A sign warning about the electric fence surrounding Auschwitz I. It reads: “Danger! High voltage. Will cause death.”

This was a strange sight found near the Oswiecim railway station - this has to be one of the smallest night clubs in the world. — This was a strange sight found near the Oswiecim railway station – this has to be one of the smallest night clubs in the world.

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.