Yes, I did visit there ... this was Nr. 1 on my priority list.
- judenrampeorigsite4.jpg (74.15 KiB) Viewed 1020 times
- judenrampeorigtracks2.jpg (92.2 KiB) Viewed 1020 times
- judenrampeorigtracksrelic1.jpg (93.7 KiB) Viewed 1020 times
Auschwitz Buildings, “outside the wire”
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Geoff Walden
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- Posts: 2617
- Joined: 29 Mar 2002, 15:50
- Location: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
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Re: Auschwitz Buildings, “outside the wire”
Hi Paul,
Yes, I did visit there ... this was Nr. 1 on my priority list.
Above is the site that Hans Citroen says was the original Judenrampe. He feels that the remains of the concrete ramp are beneath this ridge of gravel that is about 200-300 meters long. These tracks are the furthest away from the main modern railroad tracks - those tracks that are still in use are over to the right. This view is looking northeast, toward the road viaduct that crosses the railroad (the modern road between Auschwitz I and Birkenau). There is a line of period-looking concrete lamp posts all along here (running back behind where I was standing as well), and witnesses say the Judenrampe was lit up at night (these posts have modern lights on them now). There are no lamp posts like these anywhere near the memorial site - I only saw one more way down by Kartoffellagerhallen, about in line with this next track.
I feel that this track, which is a short distance on the other side of the gravel ridge (but this view is looking the other direction), is also part of the original Judenrampe. There are slabs and chunks of concrete along here, which may or may not be parts of the original ramp structure. I note, however, that there are none of the concrete lamp posts along here (except the one much further down). This is still some distance from the memorial site ... I guess 50 meters, at least.
Yes, I did visit there ... this was Nr. 1 on my priority list.
Above is the site that Hans Citroen says was the original Judenrampe. He feels that the remains of the concrete ramp are beneath this ridge of gravel that is about 200-300 meters long. These tracks are the furthest away from the main modern railroad tracks - those tracks that are still in use are over to the right. This view is looking northeast, toward the road viaduct that crosses the railroad (the modern road between Auschwitz I and Birkenau). There is a line of period-looking concrete lamp posts all along here (running back behind where I was standing as well), and witnesses say the Judenrampe was lit up at night (these posts have modern lights on them now). There are no lamp posts like these anywhere near the memorial site - I only saw one more way down by Kartoffellagerhallen, about in line with this next track.
I feel that this track, which is a short distance on the other side of the gravel ridge (but this view is looking the other direction), is also part of the original Judenrampe. There are slabs and chunks of concrete along here, which may or may not be parts of the original ramp structure. I note, however, that there are none of the concrete lamp posts along here (except the one much further down). This is still some distance from the memorial site ... I guess 50 meters, at least.
Re: Auschwitz Buildings, “outside the wire”
Thank you so much, once again, Geoff. From what I have read somewhere, maybe even from your good self, the original Judenrampe was approximately 500 meters in length. That looks like it ties in with the approximate length of the present day gravel ridge. In your penultimate picture, looking towards the Southwest, it looks like the old railroad tracks vanish into the vegetation. Is this where the old tracks end? Also on the RHS of the same picture it looks like there is a fence between the memorial site and the old railroad tracks - presumably this is to demarcate the boundary of the Polish railroad system and the memorial site - am I correct in that assumption?
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Geoff Walden
- Member
- Posts: 2617
- Joined: 29 Mar 2002, 15:50
- Location: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
- Contact:
Re: Auschwitz Buildings, “outside the wire”
Hi Paul,
Those tracks continue on into the trees and weeds, but I didn't follow them to their end. Looking on Google Maps, where you can see this line running between the rebuilt lines of the Judenrampe memorial and the main tracks (on the other side of the gravel ridge), it looks like this line continues on down to the field in front of the Kartoffellagerhallen, then disappears. No fence there at all - just really overgrown weeds - goldenrod and briers.
Those tracks continue on into the trees and weeds, but I didn't follow them to their end. Looking on Google Maps, where you can see this line running between the rebuilt lines of the Judenrampe memorial and the main tracks (on the other side of the gravel ridge), it looks like this line continues on down to the field in front of the Kartoffellagerhallen, then disappears. No fence there at all - just really overgrown weeds - goldenrod and briers.
Re: Auschwitz Buildings, “outside the wire”
You are correct Geoff, the rails continue towards the potato sheds and then stops at what must have been the end of the first Judenrampe. I did track the rail track from the bridge until the potato sheds (Kartoffellager) and found that the rails are cut up at some time and then continue again. So i can not tell weather that rail is still authentic or not.
Re: Auschwitz Buildings, “outside the wire”
Old and new Judenrampe photo's.
I would like to share some images i shot back in 2013. The images start from the bridge (Birkenau/Brezinka towards Oświęcim) over the rail road tracks.
The badge of pictures here below show both the old and new rampe (Birkenau).
The first image is a map (Google Earth) on which i have put the picture numbers.
The yellow V markers show the direction of which the picture was taken.
*Edit*
(You might need to click the image to view it full size, since it is at a reduced size here, in order to view the picture numbers)
I would like to share some images i shot back in 2013. The images start from the bridge (Birkenau/Brezinka towards Oświęcim) over the rail road tracks.
The badge of pictures here below show both the old and new rampe (Birkenau).
The first image is a map (Google Earth) on which i have put the picture numbers.
The yellow V markers show the direction of which the picture was taken.
*Edit*
(You might need to click the image to view it full size, since it is at a reduced size here, in order to view the picture numbers)
- Attachments
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- Image 00