Gdańsk is an important place when you consider the history of World War II. This is where it started and this is where the first Nazi concentration camp in Poland was organized. The history of this place is truly chilling. If you decide to visit the camp, it will be an homage to those who were imprisoned and killed there in gas chambers. Let’s see the logistics of the trip to the Stutthof camp so that you can prepare for it.
Stutthof camp – silent witness
During World War II there were a few Nazi concentration camps in Poland, where more than one million people of various nationalities were killed over a few years. The Stutthof camp was the first and longest operating one. It was the last place liberated by the Allies. Over the 5 years, more than 110 thousand people were imprisoned here, and half of them were killed.
At the moment, the camp is a museum that commemorates the tragic history. It’s a difficult lesson in history. This is where you can see the place where prisoners were kept, learn what life was like here and how the people were tortured, physically and mentally, before they were killed in gas chambers. And it was not the only way to die here – tortures were used on a daily basis, as well as phenol injections or using the deadly cyclone B.
Visiting the Stutthof Concentration Camp – practical tips
You need half a day for a trip to Stutthof – you’re well advised to start with an early breakfast and plan your lunch on the way. This includes the transport from your hotel in Gdańsk. A guided tour lasts 2 hours – you can ask for a guide who speaks your language. While visiting the camp, you will see the buildings: the barracks, the villa of the camp commander, as well as gas chambers and crematoria, where more than 65 thousand prisoners were killed.
You visit the camp on foot, so make sure you have comfortable shoes and suitable clothes that match the formal character of this place. Since people died in this camp, the visitors should try to show due respect and choose appropriate outfits, preferably in muted colors. If there is a chance it will rain, remember to take an umbrella or a raincoat, so that the weather doesn’t stop you from visiting this place. You can take some hand luggage with you, but the size is limited.
