My trip to Poland - Part II - Plaszow and Amon Göth's house

[chrischa]

Thanks for the update (and field trip). That's dedication to get an answer!

[N.C. Wyeth]

Are you sure it's the same balcony, same house? I see zero match in the two houses - on the period photo and on the modern photo. Where there's a roof behind the man standing, there is a flat facade on the modern picture. And where the balcony-level roof tiles must be on the side, there is nothing, other houses are seen in the distance.

Recently came across some period photos, and thought I might take the time to post a comparison . . . I myself, see many similarities - and know for certain, it is the same building and features.

[N.C. Wyeth]

It's not often one hears talk of this site . . . but here's a story that cropped up today. My suspicion is the pipeline is buried near the road, next to the "Grey House" - where the road dead-ends at the path leading up into the site of the former camp . . . and not necessarily inside the confines of the original cemetery itself. Anyone know for certain where the digging occurred?


</O<OGas workers dig up human remains at Nazi camp in Poland

Construction crew was repairing pipeline near Plaszow camp outside Krakow
<O</O</O
BY JTA AND AP March 2, 2016, 4:02 am

Polish prosecutors are investigating if workers violated laws protecting buried human remains when they apparently dug up bones at the site of a former Nazi concentration camp and a Jewish cemetery.
<O</O
A construction crew unearthed bones at the site of the former Nazi concentration camp in Plaszow, near Krakow.
<O</O
The workers were repairing a decades-old gas pipeline on the property last week adjacent to the former funeral home of a Jewish cemetery on which the camp was established during World War II.
<O</O
The Jewish community of Krakow, which officially owns the property, was not informed of the plans to repair the pipeline, its president said.
<O</O
“All the former Plaszow camp area is a cemetery,” Tadeusz Jakubowicz said in an interview with the Dziennik Polski newspaper. “Also, this area is listed on the register of national historic monuments.”
<O</O
Krakow police are investigating the incident. Police spokesman Mariusz Ciarka told reporters on Tuesday that the bones were sent for forensic tests to determine if they are human.
<O</O
Plaszow was erected on the grounds of two Jewish cemeteries. Today it is only marked by a stone memorial. Its commander, Amon Goeth, was known for his sadistic treatment of prisoners.<O</O

[helmuthunter]

Yeah, you should be banned. This is supposed to be a website for serious history, not revisionists, which you clearly are. A Nazi sympathizer in Holland? You have to hope that most of those you come into contact with know nothing about WWII. Most people in your country with either direct memory of WWII or in-depth knowledge of those years would not give you the time of day. I wonder why??

I couldn't agree more. Your in the wrong place buddy...

[M Wipf]

"Inheritance" is an excellent documentary produced in 2006. You will get a tour inside Amon Goeth's house. Take the time to watch it, you will be glad you did.



"Inheritance" is the story of Monika Hertwig and her journey to accept the truth about her father, Nazi commander, Amon Goeth, who was portrayed by actor Ralph Fiennes in "Schindler's List." As part of Monika's search for information, she reaches out to Helen Jonas-Rosenzweig, a woman who had been enslaved by Monika's father during the war. More than sixty-years after Monika's father was executed for his war crimes, in a historic and painful moment, these two women meet, bringing closure, yet raising new questions.

All the best..

Mike W.

[colt45s]

interesting

[M Wipf]

I failed to mention the documentary "Inheritence" can be purchased in DVD for $7.99 or rented for $2.99 from Amazon.com

[N.C. Wyeth]

I failed to mention the documentary "Inheritence" can be purchased in DVD for $7.99 or rented for $2.99 from Amazon.com

Good tip, Mike - Thanks! Watched it long before we made our visit - and I can tell you for certain, the interior of the house is no longer the same as what you see in that film. Someone is currently gutting the place, and tossing contents from inside, all over the ground outside [ I am only kidding - but I tell friends you can even see Amon's toilet in the background of my photo ] - and I was told by a few of the neighbors, the newest Owner is making effort to fix it up for rent. You wouldn't believe what it looked like inside, back in September . . . There will be someone I know headed that way soon - and hopefully we can get an update on the newest developments . . .

[N.C. Wyeth]

And for anyone else headed to the site - here's an awesome link to a website that provides a first-hand story, giving a vivid account of what the place was really like - and does a an equally wonderful job at providing a "walking guide" . . . http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/othercamps/plaszow/bauplaszow.html . . . . be sure to pay special attention to Mr. Bau's map - it does wonders for bringing the story to life, while you walk around.

[Geoff Walden]

There will be someone I know headed that way soon - and hopefully we can get an update on the newest developments . . .

Ok, if it wasn't before, the Goeth Villa is definitely now Nr. 1 on my Krakow list. Well, OK, it was already Nr. 1 before. Hoping for good weather, which we have been short on around here recently!

[N.C. Wyeth]

Ok, if it wasn't before, the Goeth Villa is definitely now Nr. 1 on my Krakow list.

Ha! Ha! My apologies for injecting any undue influence in your decision-making process . . . I'm sure the weather will be great - and can't wait to see what you find! Be sure to say "Hello", and have a Tyskie at the Old Tree for us!

[carltiger]

Over the years, many visitors to the area have made the mistake of believing that they found the original site...when actually, they were walking around the old film set...

In recent times, information points have been erected - another was added not so long ago, that assist in identifying the former camp boundaries and few extant structures and ruins.

We addressed the site in detail last year during one of our organised tours.

Carl

[N.C. Wyeth]

Over the years, many visitors to the area have made the mistake of believing that they found the original site...when actually, they were walking around the old film set...

In recent times, information points have been erected - another was added not so long ago, that assist in identifying the former camp boundaries and few extant structures and ruins.

We addressed the site in detail last year during one of our organised tours.

Carl

You are right, Carl - if you don't do your homework before visiting, you could stumble into the quarry, and find that path of concrete tombstones - not knowing they were made in the 90's as part of the set for the film . . . and think you might be in the right place.


This is why I posted the link to Mr. Bau's map and storyline . . . by overlaying Mr. Bau's map with the maps on Google Earth, you can quickly find the proper location of the camp - which is right next to the quarry, almost due South. Yes, there are signs erected around the perimeter of the site - but not all of them tell what rests in front of you [but I do recall seeing a sign with this map posted there as well].

One does not really need a tour-guide to get the most out of visiting the site . . .by reading Mr. Bau's storyline, studying the map, - and doing a little homework before you go - you can't really miss much. There is still much left to see there - you just have to know where to look . . .

PS - As an interesting sidetrack, it is worth a walk down in the quarry - to see a few things that are related to the Plaszow camp [a memorial, some DEST buildings, etc.], as well as the sites associated with the Spielberg film. A walk to the Krak mound is also worth the journey, and Podgórski Nowy cemetery contains a few noteworthy sites as well.

[N.C. Wyeth]

So the discovery of human remains was made very near the "Grey House" after all . . . and it also appears that the digging was moving in the general direction of the ruins of the Synagogue - left behind when the Nazi's destroyed it, prior to the construction of the camp. Here is a photo that gives some reference - and is from this article, where additional photos can be found:

http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/krakow/krakow-znaleziono-kosci-na-terenie-dawnego-obozu-plaszow/45kb73

[N.C. Wyeth]

For anyone interested, I came across a couple of photos that are described as showing the "Synagogue" - from [long] before, and during it's destruction. This would be what once stood where you see rubble piled at the middle-left-side of the above photo. I have some doubt for the first photo being correctly placed at the site . . . but I am certain the second one is correct [and I believe it is taken from the vantage-point of the "Grey House" as well]. To me, the two buildings look similar - but not identical, in some respect. Can anyone confirm my suspicion?

Some refer to this building as what was once a "Synagogue" . . . and I have also seen it described as a "House of pre-burial", being part of the Jewish cemetery that once stood right next to it.