Auschwitz Commandant's Home to Become Visitor Site

The house once occupied by Rudolf Höss, subject of the acclaimed film “The Zone of Interest,” is set to open for public tours as its former owner seeks to reconcile with its dark history.

In Oswiecim, Poland, the home where Garzyna Jurczak raised her children for over 42 years, positioned just beyond a former gas chamber and gallows, is about to embrace a new chapter. While the home, once inhabited by Auschwitz's commandant Rudolf Höss, provided Jurczak and her family with a seemingly idyllic environment—complete with a lovely garden and access to recreational areas—the grim historical context grew increasingly uncomfortable for her.

After watching the profound impact of the Oscar-winning film “The Zone of Interest,” inspired by her former residence, Jurczak found herself disturbed by curious visitors who encroached on her privacy, leading her to sell the house. Last summer, she finalized the sale to the Counter Extremism Project based in New York, an organization dedicated to opening the site for educational purposes.

In October, the project acquired both her former home and an adjacent structure built after the war. The intent behind this initiative is to transform the site into a place of remembrance and reflection, helping future generations understand the weight of its past. The opening of this site marks a monumental step towards acknowledging Auschwitz’s chilling history while fostering meaningful engagement with its complex legacy.