PHOTOS: Euro teams visit Auschwitz concentration camp

The Netherlands' national team visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi concentration camp in Oswiecim on Wednesday.

The Auschwitz camp was the largest of the German concentration camps built and operated during World War II. 

The camp was liberated by the Soviet troops in January 1945. 

Natherlands will play its first match against Denmark in Kharkiv on Saturday.  

The Italian team members were seen walking through Auschwitz's notorious gate with the sign Arbeit Macht Frei (Work sets you free) during their visit to the former Nazi camp. 

The gates lead to a museum, built by the Polish government on the site of Auschwitz I and II in 1947. 

Thousands of tourists visit the place every year. 

Italy will play its first match against Spain in Gdansk on Sunday.  

The German national team, led by manager Oliver Bierhoff, also visited the camp. 

The German Footbal Federation (DFB) made the visit last Friday.

Three-time champions Germany play Portugal in their first match on Sunday.

Joachim Lowe, the German coach, placed a candle to commemorate the victims of Auschwitz former Nazi concentration camp.

For those interested in history, Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and subsequently destroyed the village of Birkenau to make way for the camp. 

Jews from all over Nazi-occupied Europe were transported to this camp between 1942 and 1944.