Thoughts on guide for Auschwitz-group or private-which is best?

We were at Auschwitz last year and joined a guided tour from the tour desk in English. We could hear everything that was explained in excellent English and the Guide was very informative with questions well answered.

It's difficult to say that we "enjoyed" a visit to a place like this, but we found the visit well worthwhile.

I went on New Year's Eve with a tour company from central Krakow, whose courier handed us on to a guide from the Museum. I would have thought that booking this way guarantees a guide speaking the appropriate language for the people who have booked.

No trouble understanding the Museum guide (BTW< how on earth do they do it, day in, day out?). I had the impression different groups may be shown different buildings and fixed displays, to spread any potential congestion; but of course they may be more over-stretched in September.

Patrick and Lifeman. I will be going in October. Can you give me a reasonable time frame for the visit? Just a general idea. Not the transportation to and from the camp but the actual time spent touring.
Thanks.

We were there under own steam and spent about 4 hours in the camp. There is a modern Visitor Centre as you enter and they show introductory films in there. You then leave the VC and head under the "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign into the camp proper.

We felt that we had seen everything in that time.

On my tour, my guess is that it was about three hours in the camp (they showed an introductory film on the bus - I don't know if it was the same as would be shown to people who travel independently to the camp). That three hours was enough (it was very cold and snowy underfoot).

Thanks for the input. We will probably opt for the private guide, sort of the "hand off" that PatrickLondon mentioned. The guide we are using for Krakow is going to help us with that. Lifeman, I agree with your assessment in regards to "enjoying" visiting such a place. We want to be sure to fully understand all that is there and feel a good guide is quite helpful in that quest. History repeats when we forget, I think that is why we feel compelled to visit and honor the memory of those innocents lost.

We went a number of years ago with the kids who were elementary and middle school age at the time. We did not opt for the private tour and we were able to take our time and let the kids soak in what they needed to at their own pace and take away their own impressions. All through high school and even now in college when conversation comes up something from the time spent there will trigger and teachers have always commented to them on their ability to bring their knowledge to the class. If you have time to view a documentary before you go "Paperclips" is something that students in our area see when they are studying that period of history, adults are very moved by it as well. It might give you an additional perspective we you go.

I won't "enjoy" but I can tell you that you will leave a different person. Safe trip