Auschwitz Research
By Allyson Vasquez
AUSCHWITZ I
AUSCHWITZ I
Auschwitz was one of the largest concentration camps during the Holocaust. Originally starting out as a quarantine camp to hold innocent minorities, it quickly began evolving until it became one of the largest extermination camps of its time.
Daily Life For Prisoners
Upon arrival into Auschwitz, prisoners would find themselves beaten, stolen from and stripped (and in many cases, murdered). They would then be shaved, tattooed for identification and immediately taken to either work or the crematoria. If the prisoners were chosen to work, they would find themselves fighting against starvation, disease and ridicule from SS members. Work included anywhere from cleaning dead bodies to cleaning out toilets. Work was extremely laborious and tired out many prisoners to the point of extreme exhaustion and in alot of cases, death.
Josef Mengele
Josef Mengele was infamous for his human experimentation on holocaust prisoners in Auschwitz. Joining the Nazi party in 1937, he was especially known for his experimentation on twins (as in, conjoining them).
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler, one of the most notorious members of the holocaust, was the leader of the German Nazi Party. His ideas on the human race sparked the death of millions of innocent people, and were a major cause of WWII.
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler was one of the leading Gestapo members of the Nazi Party, helping to organize the death of millions of innocent lives.
AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU
Purpose Of Birkenau
The original purpose of Auschwitz-Birkenau was to imprison large amounts of soviet prisoners, but ultimately ended up becoming one of the largest killing centers of its time upon liberation.
It Can Be Estimated That:
- Around 2.5 million Were admitted into Auschwitz
- Over 1 million people died in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp
Everyday Life In Birkenau
Life for prisoners in this death camp were cruel and slim. They would begin with a very early morning roll call, followed by tiny portions of breakfast, usually consisting of a piece of bread and dirty water. They would then go to work with their assigned groups, usually either in hard labor or sorting out belongings in the Canada; a place where all prisoners' belongings went. Many of these items would later be taken by SS members for themselves. Inmates would work for a good 11 to 12 hours before given another small meal shortly before going back to their cramped slumber.
Hermann Goering
An infamous leading member of the Nazi Party, Goering is credited with helping to create and plan the holocaust.
Ilse Koch
Wife to Karl Koch, an SS Commander, Ilse Koch was notorious for her assault and brutality against prisoners. If she felt a prisoner gave her even the slightest look, she'd have them dead on the spot.
Maria Mandel
Maria Mandel is responsible for the deaths of over 500,000 inmates in the Birkenau camp, by both torturing and enslaving inmates for herself.