Before I visit any new place, I always try to watch some related movies or read some books on topics I know I’ll encounter. And the ones I can’t get to beforehand, I always consume after I get back home. If you’re the same, and you’ve got a trip to Poland in the works, these are some of the absolute best.
The books, movies, and shows I list here cover all the most prevalent topics, people, and places you’ll experience here. Though nothing can truly prepare you for a visit to WWII Poland, these will at least give you a head start. Enjoy!
Movies to watch for visiting Poland
If you’re short on time or simply prefer movies to books, start here. For each entry, I’ve included links for streaming, but don’t forget you can check out DVDs for free from your local library too. I’ll start with the simple list of names, but click on each one (or scroll down) to read more about each and see where you can watch.
1. Schindler’s List (1993)
Best Picture Oscar winner directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. It takes place at Płaszów concentration camp, the Kraków ghetto, and Schindler’s enamel factory. It just might be the best movie of all time on the Holocaust and what the camps were like.
2. The Pianist (2002)
Best Picture Oscar winner based on the true story of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish Jew who spent the war in hiding in occupied Warsaw. Another of the best ever made.
3. Zone of Interest (2023)
Oscar-winning film about the day-to-day lives of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his family who lived right here at the camp, in a fancy villa within earshot of the horrors.
4. The Grey Zone (2001)
Incredible film highlighting the role of the Sonderkommandos at Auschwitz (the Jewish prisoners forced to assist in the mass exterminations of other Jews). Because all camps used Sonderkommandos, this is a great watch before visiting any of Poland’s camps.
5. Valkyrie (2008)
The story of Claus von Stauffenberg and the July 20th assassination attempt on Hitler starring Tom Cruise. (Try to overlook the fact that much of the casting, directing, and acting choices in this movie are simply terrible. It’s still a good one to watch to break down what Operation Valkyrie was all about.)
6. The Great Escape (1963)
The amazing story of the (very real) mass escape of British POWs from a German POW camp; starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough.
7. Pilecki’s Report (2023)
Movie based on the true story of Witold Pilecki, a Polish cavalry officer who participated in the defense of Gdańsk against the Nazi and Soviet invasions. He later co-founded the Polish resistance, allowed himself to be captured so he could infiltrate Auschwitz in order to establish another resistance movement there.
In addition to growing the movement into the hundreds, he also created detailed records of what was happening in the camp and smuggled them to the Allies. Then, he escaped Auschwitz and went on to fight in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Incredible human being.
8. The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017)
Based on the true story of Jan and Antonina Zabinski who hid Jews in the Warsaw zoo during the war. (Keep in mind this is a highly fictionalized account, but still worthwhile.)
9. A Real Pain (2024)
On a trip around Poland to honor their late grandmother, two cousins explore Warsaw with their tour group along with Majdanek Concentration Camp and other sites. (Just don’t do like they did at the Uprising monument; I beg you.)
10. Escape from Sobibór (1987)
TV movie on the resistance at Sobibór and the October 1943 uprising and escapes. Fictionalized account of the book by Richard Rashke. (More on that in the section on books.)
TV shows / documentaries to watch for visiting Poland
As you can imagine, there are countless documentaries about the Holocaust and places like Auschwitz. Rather than list them all, here are a few great ones to start with relevant to some of the WWII sites you can visit in Poland.
11. Memory of the Camps (1985)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the footage in this 1-hour documentary comes mostly from death camps in Germany, but is a great example of the overall camp system. This is a MUST-WATCH (but also the most graphic footage I’ve ever seen, so consider yourself warned).
12. Night and Fog (1956)
Quintessential documentary on Auschwitz, filmed just ten years after the camp’s liberation. (You’ll notice it looks pretty much the exact same today.) It’s only 30 minutes long but worth the watch.
13. Resistance: They Fought Back (2025)
Excellent documentary about Jewish resistance during the Holocaust at places like Warsaw, Sobibór and more. Proving that Jews did not go to their deaths like sheep to the slaughter.
14. The Devil Next Door (2019)
Netflix docuseries about an elderly man from Cleveland, Ohio believed to be an infamous Nazi death camp guard at Sobibór and brought to trial in Israel. (This one is edge-of-your-seat madness!)
15. The Invasion of Poland (2024)
Documentary by historian Alexandra Richie on various topics related to WWII Poland: Polish Resistance, Polish Home Army, cracking the Enigma, and much more.
16. Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial (2024)
Netflix docuseries on Nazi war crimes, Poland’s extermination camps, and the Nuremberg Trials. Perhaps this one is best watched after visiting Poland to give you a little bit of closure after visiting the camps.
Books to read for visiting Poland
Once again, your options are absolutely endless here. So, I’ve chosen a few from several different categories that I either personally like or that I think would be great resources for your trip. Take a look at these categories:
Keep in mind that most of the WWII sites you can visit in Poland also have small book shops inside with tons more options. Most are in Polish but there’s (almost) always a section with English-language books too.
Books about Poland’s death camps
Though but a sample, here are some great books to read that cover the six major Nazi death camps here:
- Auschwitz: A New History by Laurence Rees (2006) – Includes insight from over 100 survivors and perpetrators that are going on record for the first time. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Maus by Art Spiegelman (1996) – The definitive graphic novel on the Holocaust and Pulitzer Prize winner. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Spaces of Treblinka by Jacob Flaws (2024) – Includes testimonies and recollections from Jewish, German, and Polish witnesses to create a holistic representation of Treblinka during its operation. (Written by my friend and former professor.) Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- The Operation Reinhard Death Camps : Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka by Yitzhak Arad (2018) – All about the experiences of those deported to these three camps. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Escape from Sobibór by Richard Rashke (2013) – All about the October 1943 uprising at Sobibór and the escape of 300 prisoners. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Chełmno and the Holocaust: A History of Hitler’s First Death Camp by Patrick Montague (2011) – Known as the definitive book on the history of the Chełmno extermination camp. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
Books about resistance
As you’ll learn on your visit, resistance was a huge part of the Polish World War II experience and identity. Get a deeper look into that with these books:
- Warsaw 1944: Hitler, Himmler, and the Warsaw Uprising by Alexandra Richie (2019) – “The full untold story of how one of history’s bravest revolts ended in one of its greatest crimes.” Available on Amazon.
- The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust by Elizabeth White and Joanna Sliwa (2025) – The true story of Lublin-based Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg who rescued more than 10,000 Polish prisoners. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- A Memoir of the Warsaw Uprising by Miron Bialoszewski (2015) – This renowned Polish poet gives a blow-by-blow account of the historic uprising. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill (1950) – All about the famous British and American POWs and their daring escape from a German POW camp in Poland. A truly incredible story (and the basis for the hit movie, #6 on this list.) Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather (2019) – The amazing true story of Witold Pilecki. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Operation Valkyrie: The German Generals’ Plot Against Hitler by Pierre Galant (2002) – Focusing on the events and motivations that led up to the attempted assassination. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
Unforgettable memoirs from WWII Poland
Some of the best books you can read on World War II Poland are from those who experienced these nightmares themselves. Here are some must-read firsthand accounts to check out:
- Night by Elie Wiesel (1960) – The most essential book to read before visiting Auschwitz. One man’s experiences at Auschwitz and Buchenwald; a fairly short and easy read but one you’ll never forget. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi (1947) – Another well-known and unforgettable memoir. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- The Pianist: The Extraordinary True Story of One Man’s Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945 by Władysław Szpilman (1946) – The memoir that inspired the Oscar-winning film. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- I Escaped from Auschwitz by Rudolf Vrba (2002) – Autobiographical account of Vrba’s escape after which he provided the first detailed description of the camp to the Allies. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- A Memoir of the Warsaw Uprising by Miron Bialoszewski (2015) – A repeat from the above section, but still worth mentioning here. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo (1965) – Delbo’s personal account of being arrested as a resistance fighter and then being sent to Auschwitz in an all-women transport. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Valkyrie: The Story of the Plot to Kill Hitler, by Its Last Member by Philip Freiherr Von Boeselager (2009) – Personal testimony of the only surviving member of the assassination plot. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
Books about the Polish military
For more on the invasion that started to World War II and Poland’s military in general, check these out:
- Poland 1939: The Outbreak of War by Roger Moorhouse (2022) – Examining the “least understood campaign of World War II”. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland’s Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan (2011) – All about the work of Polish forces in WWII which have largely gone forgotten or intentionally kept hidden. (Really, they were everywhere!) Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero by Aileen Orr and Neal Ascherson (2014) – All about the Polish Army’s most interesting soldier, a literal bear! I personally love Wojtek’s story. Available on Amazon and Books-A-Million.
- The Tiger from Poznań by Richard Siegert (2021) – Firsthand account from Eastern Front veteran and tiger tank commander during the Battle of Poznań. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
Historical fiction books about WWII Poland
I’m not a big reader of fiction myself, but I asked around and these came in as the top recommendations for Poland-based WWII historical fiction novels:
- When We Fall by Carolyn Kirby (2020) – Novel set in Poznań around the lives of three people–a POW, a pilot, and a member of the resistance. Available on Amazon.
- Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (2017) – The story of three young women navigating World War II (one of whom lives in Poland). New York Times Bestseller. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (2018) – #1 NYT Bestseller; based on real-life Holocaust survivor Lale Sokolov who was assigned as one of the camp’s Tätowierer (tattooists). Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2018) – Based on the true story of a Jewish family in Poland separated during the war. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
Important note about historical fictions novels
Keep in mind that these are indeed fiction above all else. While most of them are based on true stories and real people, the authors take a ton of artistic license which doesn’t always match with reality.
Most often, the situations are toned down to be more palatable for casual audiences. This angers many, especially those who lived through these tragedies and survived by nothing short of a miracle. Downplaying Nazi atrocities is never a good thing.
One example in particular is The Tattooist of Auschwitz. While this book is incredibly popular, the authorities at Auschwitz really don’t like it. You can see their tweet about it below and read their full fact-checking review here which corrects the book’s inaccuracies.
I’d hope that people wouldn’t read novels like this one and assume it’s 100% fact, just because it’s “based on a true story,” but I guess that’s a real risk. While historical fiction definitely has its benefits, it’s best read alongside (and after reading) a factual account of the history, and for the purpose of entertainment rather than education. Just something to keep in mind.
Books about visiting WWII sites in Poland
If you want more information on some of Poland’s WWII sites and/or more firsthand accounts of what it’s like to visit them, check out these options:
- The Texture of Memory: Holocaust Memorials and Meaning by James E. Young (1994) – Though this book is a little outdated in some places, I still use it all the time when researching Holocaust memorials throughout Europe. Very interesting and handy! Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- Holocaust Holiday: One Family’s Descent into Genocide Memory Hell by Rabbi Schmuley Boteach (2021) – Though I’m personally not a fan of Boteach, I will say that his account of taking his many kids on a genocide tour of Poland is pretty interesting and really informative. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
- The Last Ride: Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau by Manit Dani (2024) – Compelling narrative of one man’s visit to Auschwitz that touches on many of the same thoughts and emotions you’ll experience. Available on Amazon & Books-A-Million.
More info for your visit to Poland
- Hotels: Find great places to stay on Booking.com (my go-to). Expedia and Hotels.com are worth checking too. VRBO is best for apartment rentals.
- Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
- For more local tours, check out all the options from Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Don’t forget a Poland guidebook and this must-have Poland customs and culture guide!
- Want more? See all my Poland posts here.
Like this post? Have questions about any Poland WWII books and movies? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
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