Auschwitz Research
By: Katie May
Auschwitz I
Facts and Statistics
Auschwitz I was was the main camp and was the first camp that was made near Oswiecim. The first prisoners at Auschwitz included German prisoners and Polish political prisoners. Auschwitz I was to incarcerate enemies of the Nazis, to provide forced laborers, to serve as a place to exterminate small groups. 1.1 million people died in the four and a half years Auschwitz was opened and 1 million of them were Jewish. More people died in Auschwitz than Americans and British killed in WWII.
Daily Life of Prisoners
In Auschwitz I the prisoners first see the worlds "Arbeit Macht Frei" or work will give you freedom. At Auschwitz I there was the commandant's office and living quarters, the administration building, the prisoners kitchen and infirmary, the death block, the main guard station, a crematorium and gas chamber, the Gestapo camp, and the group gallows. Auschwitz I was surrounded by two barbed wire electric fences and nine watch towers. The death block housed the criminals and the barracks were where prisoners were tortured and sentenced to death. There was also a firing wall.
Important Figures
Irma Grese
A female SS guard at Auschwitz and was the most notorious of the female SS guards.
Ruth Meyerowitz
Survived a selection for the gas chamber
Josef Mengele
A German officer and physician at Auschwitz. He carried out human experiments on prisoners, especially twins.
Auschwitz II/ Auschwitz-Birkenau
Facts and Statistics
Construction of Auschwitz II began in October of 1941. It housed the largest prisoner population. Auschwitz II was the largest section of Auschwitz. Four large crematoriums were created between March and June of 1943. About 125 million was generated for the Nazis by forced labor. There were around 170 female SS officers. There were 7,000 workers at Auschwitz and only 750 were ever punished. This camp was use for many for exterminations and forced labor.
Daily Life of Prisoners
Auschwitz-Birkenau was divided into ten sections separated by electric and barbed wire fences. After 1942 there were also dogs that patrolled as well as guards. The camp included a place for men, women, a family camp for gypsies, and a family camp for Jewish people. Many prisoners were experimented on for scientific research. There were 250 barracks for the prisoners that were designed for horses and they were only designed to hold 52 horses so it was very crowded. The gas chambers were near the barracks so as to scare the prisoners.
Important Figures
Józef Szajna
Prisoner number 18 729
Edward Galiński
Edward was sent to Auschwitz on June 14, 1940 and escaped on June 24, 1944. He was later caught and transported back to Birkenau where he was hanged on September 15, 1944.
Johan Holomeck
Brought to Auschwitz on March 8, 1943.