A walk through World War II sites in Europe

The history of human civilisation is marred with wars, and the events during the years 1939-1945 shaped the world as we know it. World War II changed the very fabric of civilisation, killing an estimated 60 million people throughout the world. There is no way to put aside the morbid facts of World War II, and as modern citizens, we can only learn from our painful past. Through our travels, we can try to understand the verities of the war, and how it played out in the various corners of the world. The horrors of Auschwitz have not yet faded from the various locations across Poland, and Oradour-sur-Glane in France still aches with memories of the defining cries of its dead residents.

With that thought in mind, let us take a look at the World War II sites that you can visit in the present world.
Oradour-sur-Glane, France
During the war, Oradour-sur-Glane was a Nazi-occupied territory, which saw its share of horror. One of the worst Nazi atrocities site in Western Europe, today the village stands as a reminder of the evils of war. The village was bombed by the Nazis; and eventually, on June 10, 1944, it saw the death of almost 600 residents after rounds of shelling. Women and children were gunned or burnt alive. The village has not been restored to its former glory, and looks like as if the war got over only yesterday.
Auschwitz, Poland
In total, there were six Auschwitz camps in Poland, three large, and three small. While Auschwitz I was the main camp of the Nazi empire, Auschwitz II (Auschwitz-Birkenau) the largest extermination camp during the Holocaust. Numbers suggest that almost 960,000 Jews were killed in these camps, alongside people of other nationalities, such as the Poles and Soviets among others. You can visit Auschwitz II and still feel the chills.

Read more: 12 of the most heartbreaking discoveries at Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum

Warsaw, Poland
During the invasion of Poland in 1939, Warsaw saw one of the worst bombings. The city of Warsaw has one of the most important World War II sites, the Warsaw Ghetto. The Nazis had built a ghetto compound in order to subdue the Jewish people of Warsaw, and this was done by building a wall with barbed wires. You also have the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which is dedicated to the 1944 Warsaw Uprising by the underground Polish resistance army.

Read more: Warsaw locations for Chopin lovers

Cabinet War Rooms, England
The incredible war rooms hidden beneath the streets of Westminster are high on the list in order to understand the war era. The underground bunker was used to keep government officials safe. You are in company of Churchill and his officials, who met here to discuss the ongoing war during that time. You have everything set here as it was back in the day, and so you can well imagine how exciting it would be to enter these hallowed chambers.

The ultimate journey for those who love history, this trip will help you understand and appreciate the world you live in.