Auschwitz Auschwitz and Its Subdivisions
The concentration camp was also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau. Auschwitz was opened in spring of 1940. These was the largest of the Nazi death camps. Auschwitz was located in southern Poland. It initially served as a detention center for political prisoners. Auschwitz evolved into a network of camps for Jewish people and other enemies.
In October 1944, a group of Auschwitz "Sonderkommando," young Jewish males responsible for removing corpses for crematoriums and gas chambers, staged a revolt. They assaulted the guards, used tools and makeshift explosives, and demolished a crematorium. All was killed. The first commandant of Auschwitz was Rudolf Hoss. |
Auschwitz I was the original camp housed between 15,000 and 20,000 political prisoners. The gentry gate ironically said "Arbeit Macht Frei," which means "Work Makes You Free."
Auschwitz II was located in the village of Birkenau. Auschwitz II was constructed in 1941 on the order of Heinrich Himmler, commander of the "Schutzstaffel." Schutzstaffel operated all Nazi concentration camps and death camps. Birkenau was the biggest of the Auschwitz facilities. Birkenau could hold 90,000 prisoners.Birkenau housed a group of bathhouses where people were gassed to death. Being gassed is what killed most prisoners. Monowitz, Auschwitz III, started operating in 1942. Monowitz housed 10,000 prisoners. Jews arriving at the camp was examined by Nazi doctors. Those unfit to work was sent to the showers and gassed. They were exposed to Zyklon-B gas. These unfit to work were never registered as Auschwitz inmates. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/auschwitz |