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AUSCHWITZ MILLION-VISITOR MARK REACHED IN SEPTEMBER

Contributed by 2Bart

Monday, 14 September 2009
http://en.auschwitz.org.pl/m/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=687&Itemid=7

The millionth visitor entered the Auschwitz site on September 13. This indicates that attendance for 2009 will be significantly higher than in the previous year, when the millionth visitor did not arrive until October 8. It seems possible that the record of 1,220,000 visitors, set in 2007, will be broken. Auschwitz has the highest attendance figures of any Nazi German camp site and of any Museum in Poland.

The consistently rising trend means that the number of visitors has tripled in the last seven years. “Auschwitz has become a symbol on a world scale,” said Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. “It is a symbol on many levels: of the Holocaust, of the German concentration camp system, of Nazi terror, of war and totalitarianism in general, and also a symbol in a moral sense, a symbol of the lowest point that humanity has sunk to in history. People come here to weep for murdered relatives, to express remembrance, but also to try to understand this darkest of the foundations of human nature—the capacity for the mass murder of innocent people. After the war, much effort was put into building a world that would be safer and more friendly to people. Things do not always look perfect, yet we really do have something to defend, something to develop, and something to take care of. Here, on the ruins of Auschwitz, this can be seen better than anywhere else. That is why it is so important that young people, as they learn about the tragedy of the victims of the Holocaust and the concentration camps, understand how much depends on them, and the degree to which shared, mutual responsibility is essential for the good and security of all. No film and no book can take the place of a direct encounter with the authenticity of this vast concentration camp space.”

While generally regarded as something positive, the rise in attendance creates certain difficulties in providing access to the grounds and exhibits. “Especially in the summer season, from May to September and at the peak times, there have been cases over the last two years when certain spaces, for example the basement of block 11, have been closed out of consideration for the security of such high numbers of visitors. Things really became dangerous when organized groups led by guides were moving through the narrow corridor at the same time as individual visitors and small groups following their own, unpredictable rhythm,” says Andrzej Kacorzyk, head of the visitor services section. This year, for the first time, the Museum came up with a different solution. From 9 until 3, in August and September, only groups led by trained guides were allowed to enter the Auschwitz I grounds. Individual visitors had the choice of either joining organized tours or spending the time until 3 visiting the Birkenau grounds. Individual visitors were invited into the Auschwitz grounds in the afternoon, when there are far fewer groups. The Memorial is open practically until twilight.

The Museum added a free bus that shuttled visitors between Auschwitz and Birkenau every 10 minutes, as well as offering more guided tours for groups of individual visitors in the most frequently requested languages, and lowering the cost of those tours. “We were a little bit worried that some people might be disappointed about having to wait until individual visitors were admitted. There were in fact some complaints, especially in the first few days. However,” recalls Kacorzyk, “the great majority thanked us for making this change, which had actually been needed for a long time, and which makes things better for everyone. This year, the system is in force only in August and September. Starting in October, the number of individual visitors falls sharply in relation to the number of organized groups. Nevertheless, if the evaluation of the new system is positive, then next year we will introduce it either at the beginning of the season in May, or in June, at least for as long as the annual attendance remains above a million.”

VISITOR OPINIONS ABOUT THEIR MUSEUM GUIDES:

Elżbieta, Warsaw

“Her great historical knowledge and the passion and dedication with which she imparted it made the visit to Auschwitz a truly unforgettable experience. Thanks to people like her, the memory of the tragic past will last for generations.”

Raisa, USA

“Not only did our guide speak very good Russian, but her knowledge of the subject, her attention to detail, the way she conveyed facts, and her deep sympathy for the people who perished in Auschwitz meant that we will long remember our visit. No one should forget the events of the Holocaust, and professionals like our teacher should lead the mission to educate young people about history.”

Halina, Krosno Odrzańskie

“The meeting with the guide was a big experience for us and made it possible to come closer to the atmosphere of those years full of sufferings. It was a living history lesson, which will be important for me.”

Cahtyn, Londyn

“I have toured many places in Europe and around the world and I must declare that the visit to your Museum was without doubt the best of all those I have made in the course of my travels. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, was able to answer every question, and presented it all in excellent English in a very clear way.”