I. The Auschwitz II-Birkenau site

1) Preservation and conservation of sector BI – brick barracks (45 barracks)

Priority tasks:

• Regulation of ground water
- renovation of drainage ditches
- ensuring the drainage of rainwater

• Conservation of 45 brick barracks
- reinforcement of foundations
- structural reinforcement of walls and especially the deformed and leaning upper walls
- reinforcement of roof frames
- conservation of original landmark substance: brick elevations, plaster, paint layers, drawings, inscriptions, wall paintings, woodwork, floors, etc.

The cost of conserving 1 brick barrack is approximately €670 – €890 thousand

The time needed to conserve 1 brick barrack is 1-2 years.

Assuming the conservation of 3 barracks per year, the cost is: €1,35 – €2.7 million

Assuming the conservation of 3 barracks per year, the time required for the conservation of 45 barracks is 15 years.  

2) Conservation of wooden barracks (22 barracks)

7 of the extant 22 wooden barracks require immediate conservation. 5 of them will be conserved between 2009 and 2012 using structural funds within the framework of the Infrastructure and Environment operating program. The necessary documentation is being prepared so that conservation can begin on the other two buildings. Subsequently, the wooden barracks on which work was done in the early 1990s will undergo conservation.

• Complete conservation of wooden barracks
- structural repair, repair of wall panels and roofing tiles
- mycological impregnation
- reinforcement with artificial resin
- conservation of original paint layers
- repair and conservation of the interior
- fire-prevention impregnation of the elevation

The cost of conserving 1 wooden barrack is approximately €310 thousand

The time required to conserve 1 barrack is 6-8 months.

We plan to conserve 1 wooden barrack per year.

3) Conservation and explanation of the remains of wooden barracks (remains of 210 wooden barracks)

There are remains of wooden barracks at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau site. In most cases, they represent permanent historical parts of the foundation of the barracks from the time when the camp was in operation—floors, chimneys, and parts of the walls, etc. Without the wooden superstructure of the barracks that once protected them, these elements are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of the weather. 210 of these sets of remains require conservation.

• Conservation of the existing remains
- structural reinforcement
- disinfection and cleaning
- strengthening of the building materials
- securing the remaining elements

• New explanation of the remains (outlines) of the barracks

The cost of conserving and explaining the remains of 1 barrack is approximately €78 thousand

We plan to conserve and explain the remains of 10 barracks per year, at a cost of approximately €780 thousand 

4) Conservation of 27 wooden guard towers (6 large and 21 small guard towers)

• Impregnation
• Reinforcement of damaged elements

The conservation of 1 small tower costs approximately €18 thousand
The conservation of 1 large tower costs approximately €44 thousand

We plan to conserve 2 guard towers per year

The cost of conserving 2 guard towers (1 small and 1 large) per year is approximately €62 thousand

5) Work already underway will be continued

One of the most important conservation tasks in recent years has been the work begun in 2004 and still underway to secure and conserve the ruins of gas chambers and crematoria II and III. Carrying on this work makes it possible to preserve the most eloquent symbol of Auschwitz and the Shoah.        

5) Work already underway will be continued

One of the most important conservation tasks in recent years has been the work begun in 2004 and still underway to secure and conserve the ruins of gas chambers and crematoria II and III. Carrying on this work makes it possible to preserve the most eloquent symbol of Auschwitz and the Shoah.        

6) Conservation work will also be undertaken on other original objects and structers at Auschwitz II-Birkenau, including:

•    the ruins of gas chamber and crematoria IV and V,
•    the remains of  provisional gas chamber-bunker II, known as the little white house,
•    the unloading ramp
•    the Gate of Death
•    the remains of the sewage treatment plant,
•    air-raid shelters