"Work Makes You Free"
The front gate at Auschwitz.
The Auschwitz concentration camp was the largest of its kind, including three large camps, all of which deployed prisoners at forced labor. Auschwitz was also known as being the most effective of the concentration camps created by the Nazis. The death camp was located in the center of many Polish cities making it the perfect location for the shipment of prisoners from Europe. Rudolf Hoss, the commander of Auschwitz, wanted the camp to have one purpose only: to eliminate all the prisoners admitted.
The total area of the camp was 40 square kilometers with an extra five kilometers around it for the isolation. This is equivalent to about 27.96 miles. Auschwitz was also split up into three different sections: Auschwitz I (the base camp and office), Auschwitz II (Birkenau, where the murders took place), and Auschwitz III (a smaller camp).
The words “Arbeit Macht Frei” ("Work Makes You Free") greeted prisoners as they entered Auschwitz I, giving them false hope that by working hard they would be set free. However, the only way these prisoners would become free is by their own death. Auschwitz I was the main base and smallest part of the camp. It held the commander’s office and housing, the administration building, the “death block.” the prisoners’ kitchen and infirmary, guard station, the first crematorium and gas chamber, and the group gallows. Auschwitz I was surrounded by barbed wire electric fences and nine guard towers. No one would ever escape.
The total area of the camp was 40 square kilometers with an extra five kilometers around it for the isolation. This is equivalent to about 27.96 miles. Auschwitz was also split up into three different sections: Auschwitz I (the base camp and office), Auschwitz II (Birkenau, where the murders took place), and Auschwitz III (a smaller camp).
The words “Arbeit Macht Frei” ("Work Makes You Free") greeted prisoners as they entered Auschwitz I, giving them false hope that by working hard they would be set free. However, the only way these prisoners would become free is by their own death. Auschwitz I was the main base and smallest part of the camp. It held the commander’s office and housing, the administration building, the “death block.” the prisoners’ kitchen and infirmary, guard station, the first crematorium and gas chamber, and the group gallows. Auschwitz I was surrounded by barbed wire electric fences and nine guard towers. No one would ever escape.
Auschwitz II
Children used in Josef Mengele's experiments.
Auschwitz II, known as Birkenau, was built in March of 1942 only to hold more prisoners, making it the largest section of Auschwitz. Up to 200,000 inmates were held in the 250 barracks around Birkenau, meant to house 52 horses. Approximately 800 to 1,000 people were fit into each barrack. The female section of the camp held 15,000 women. There was no water or sanitary means in Auschwitz II. Disease, rats, and insects ran wild inside the living spaces of the prisoners.
Auschwitz II also contained the gas chambers and Crematoria II, III, IV, and V. The presence of these crematoriums served as a reminder to the inmates that at any time they could be sent into the showers, then gassed, and then cremated. Another reminder of the death at Auschwitz was the scent of burning flesh and hair could be smelt from miles around.
Auschwitz II was not only known for gassing and cremating their prisoners, it was also known for its “medical” experiments performed on the inmates. The most famous of these medical conductors was Josef Mengele who was most fascinated with twins, performing horrible experiments where the children were usually murdered after the experiments were over and their bodies dissected.
Auschwitz II also contained the gas chambers and Crematoria II, III, IV, and V. The presence of these crematoriums served as a reminder to the inmates that at any time they could be sent into the showers, then gassed, and then cremated. Another reminder of the death at Auschwitz was the scent of burning flesh and hair could be smelt from miles around.
Auschwitz II was not only known for gassing and cremating their prisoners, it was also known for its “medical” experiments performed on the inmates. The most famous of these medical conductors was Josef Mengele who was most fascinated with twins, performing horrible experiments where the children were usually murdered after the experiments were over and their bodies dissected.
Auschwitz III
Large pits held thousands of bodies
Auschwitz III, also called Monoschwitz, consisted of a sub-camp that produced synthetic fuel and rubber used by the German Nazis. Later on in 1942, Monoschwitz was also used for the holding cells of prisoners.
After the murders in Auschwitz, prisoners were forced to dig large pits as mass graves that held thousands of stacked bodies. Normally, the graves could hold about 107,000 corpses. In life and death, the prisoners were just a number that the Germans could mark off their list towards the goal of their “Final Solution.”
After the murders in Auschwitz, prisoners were forced to dig large pits as mass graves that held thousands of stacked bodies. Normally, the graves could hold about 107,000 corpses. In life and death, the prisoners were just a number that the Germans could mark off their list towards the goal of their “Final Solution.”