The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial: A Guidebook

by Jarosław Mensfelt, William Brand (Translator), Paweł Sawicki (Photographer)

The guide contains basic information on the history of Auschwitz and clearly presents the exposure and routes of visiting the territories of former camps Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Situation plans, numbered exhibits and photographs allow for quick and easy finding of descriptions of visited places.

Publication consists of two parts.

The first part reconstructs the approved order of visiting along the route of the main exhibition (blocks: 4, 5, 6, 7, 11) and the most important places such as: crematorium, gas chamber, courtyard of block 11, barrack square and the place of execution of the first KL Auschwitz commander - Rudolf Höss. There is also a description of national exhibitions presenting the fate of deported persons from various countries of occupied Europe.

The second part of the guidebook presents the functions of Auschwitz II-Birkenau and describes particular sections the camp was divided into, as well as places directly connected to Holocaust: the so-called ramp, where the SS doctors were performing selections, ruins of gas chambers and crematoria II, III, IV and V, areas where human ashes were scattered and warehouses with property seized from Jews, victims of mass Holocaust.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect as a guidebook. Not too overwhelmingly detailed but not too sparse with photos and explanation either.

These pages brought me back to that freezing cold snow-laden day in Auschwitz almost four years ago. I still can't imagine how those who languished there, whether they perished or survived to be liberated, must have suffered. Fuck Nazism.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

We went to Auschwitz last week. This is a great book to help me remember what we saw at each location.

[Jap Hengky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tragedy of Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

[Marjukka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jotenkin tuntui, että tuli luettua tämä väärin päin, kun ei ole tuolla Auschwitzissa tullut vierailtua. Tätä oli kuitenkin todella mielenkiintoista ja karmaisevaa lukea yksinäänkin. Yhä enemmän tekee mieli käydä paikan päällä katsomassa, millaiselta se näyttää ja millaisissa oloissa ihmiset ovat joutuneet kärsimään.

[Rhys Causon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a guide book but having been to Auschwitz and Birkenau this took me right back to seeing the things I saw there and got the strong emotions going again.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the Memorial - well worth a read

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative and well thought out.

[Ag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good quick guidebook. Covers the main buildings of both camps, every building you can visit in Auschwitz I and their exhibitions. Would've been more useful to me if I had bought it before being confused about the order in which I should go around the camps or to which corner of Birkenau should I focus my attention on (because it's huge).

Would've liked more text on the interesting parts of the camps but that's all. Overall, would recommend.