A Controversial Home Opens Its Gates: The Höss Residence at Auschwitz

In a poignant move that intertwines personal memory with collective history, the home of Rudolf Höss, the notorious commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, is set to welcome visitors. Situated in Oswiecim, Poland, the house has been the topic of discussion ever since it was featured in the Oscar-winning film “The Zone of Interest.” Garzyna Jurczak, the previous occupant, reflects on her complicated experience of raising her children in a house shadowed by its haunting past.

Having lived in the three-story residence for over four decades, Jurczak spoke of the home as a “great place to raise children” despite its proximity to the camp's gas chamber and gallows. She recounted how she enjoyed the space, including a garden and access to the nearby river, which provided joy to her children during winter months. However, the peace was disrupted after her husband’s passing, particularly when visitors—drawn by the film—began intruding into her private space.

The decision to sell the house to the Counter Extremism Project, a New York-based nonprofit organization, ultimately came after these unsettling encounters. In October, the group finalized the purchase, aiming to transform the site into an educational hub that captures both the history of the place and the imperative to confront extremism. Jurczak, moving on from her once joyful memories, expressed relief to leave behind the constant reminders of a dark chapter in history as she steps into a new phase of her life.