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Oświęcim, a thread.
Since a person is upset over the following photo, thought it might be a good time to do a brief thread on the town of Oświęcim in Poland.
To non-Poles, Oświęcim has but one meaning: the fact that the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz (the German name 1
Since a person is upset over the following photo, thought it might be a good time to do a brief thread on the town of Oświęcim in Poland.
To non-Poles, Oświęcim has but one meaning: the fact that the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz (the German name 1
for the city, which locals are insistent that they not be conflated, and for good reason).
The city is small and the city proper is not visited by tourists despite many people visiting fmr KZ of Auschwitz each year. Around 39,000 people live there now, mostly employed at a 2
The city is small and the city proper is not visited by tourists despite many people visiting fmr KZ of Auschwitz each year. Around 39,000 people live there now, mostly employed at a 2
local chemical plant, though so do work at the former KZ.
The town square looks like this: 3/
The town square looks like this: 3/
This city itself lies on the banks of the Soła river and is approximately 30 miles from Kraków.
The city has exist since the 13th century, though it was burned down several times in several different fires.
Before the war, the town had a thriving populous, with a market 4/
The city has exist since the 13th century, though it was burned down several times in several different fires.
Before the war, the town had a thriving populous, with a market 4/
square, theatre and a Grand Hotel. The population was approximately 50% Jewish and 50% Catholic. Relations were both friendly and tense. There are testimonies of citizens of this prior in which the Christians and Jews publicly assisted each other’s celebrations. But there have 5/
Also been testimonies of antisemitism, particularly emanating from the Catholic Church with a seminary attached. Relations were both friendly and fraught, which is the only real way to describe them.
In May 1940, the Nazis took over an old Polish army barracks and established 6
In May 1940, the Nazis took over an old Polish army barracks and established 6
Auschwitz itself. The Nazis established a buffer zone around the camp so that civilians could not see and hear what was happening. As such, they expelled the Poles in two stages, wiping several villages off the map and drastically reducing the population. 7/
The only Poles left were those who could work on the IG Farben factory, the rest of the homes were destroyed or repurposed by the Nazis.
The Jews were expelled in 1941, entering into the ghetto and concentration camp system that murder the majority of them. 8/
The Jews were expelled in 1941, entering into the ghetto and concentration camp system that murder the majority of them. 8/
Here is a photo of the Jews being driven out of the city. Many were murdered in Belzec, one of the first killing centers. 9/
Going back a bit, before the expulsion of the Jews, there was a thriving Jewish life, and The Great Synagogue. Here is a colorized photo of people in front of it. 10/
The Nazis destroyed the Great synagogue, but anticipating its destruction, many holy items were buried. They still exist today in the Auschwitz Jewish museum 11//
Here is a photo of the remains of the Great synagogue 12//
Here is the Nazi flag hanging from a building near the church in my offensive photo 13//
From my offensive photo, you can see another view of the church. The top of the bank with the snow on it is where the Great Synagogue used to be 14//
For context, that photo was taken and posted in conjunction with a study trip to the city and former KZ. 15//
Behind me from where I took this photo is the Soła River, it is where the Nazis dumped the ashes of those they murdered. 16//
After WW2, very few Jews returned to the town. Shimson Kleuger was one, and he became known as the Last Jew in Oświęcim after returning to live in a small house behind one of the synagogues that he had once lived in with his family. Of his 9 siblings, 3 survived the Shoah. 17//
Not much is known about his life, but it has been confirmed that he did have a tattoo, which means he was probably imprisoned in Auschwitz-Birkenau, so close to home. He died in 2000, and was buried in the Jewish cemetery in the town, which has been revived and has a 18//
Non-Jewish caretaker works there to look after the graves. But because there were no Jews nearby, a rabbi from Kraków was called and Jewish students from America who happened to be visiting agreed to form a minyan for him 19//
His house was donated to the Auschwitz Jewish Centre upon his death. They run the remaining synagogue and host educational groups and fund trips for scholars to visit them and KZ Auschwitz. The house itself has been refurbished and is a kosher cafe and cultural center 20//
Excuse my spelling errors! This was done on a phone.
