Auschwitz Research
by: Ailey Finn
Auschwitz I
Facts and Statistics
- Auschwitz I was made to serve 3 purposes: to incarcerate real/perceived enemies of the Nazis, to supply forced laborers for the SS, and to eliminate the targeted groups of people whose death was determined by the SS and Nazi Germany.
- The basis consisted of 22 prewar brick barracks buildings.
- During the summer of 1944, which was Auschwitz's peak, there were 105,000 registered people and 30,000 were unregistered. That makes up 25% of all the people in the entire concentration camp system.
- Zyklon B gas was introduced at Birkenau, for the purpose of killing people.
- At least 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz.
Pictures
Daily Life of Prisoners
- When prisoners arrived they went through a selection and seperation before being assigned to their specific camps.
- Prisoners lived in small barracks that at first did not even have beds or furniture. Eventually bunks with three levels were established in every barrack.
- Access to bathrooms was extremely limited.
- They either wore striped, pajama-like uniforms (like the one in the picture to the right), or they wore plain uniforms. Every person was issued clothing to wear, and every uniform had the number that was assigned to the person.
- People were either sent to be executed/gassed immediately, or they were forced to do manual labor until they either died or were sent to be killed.
- People did labor such as making weapons for the Nazi army, working in stores and workshops, and working for the SS companies.
- People did not receive much food and had poor, dirty living conditions. They sometimes died of starvation or disease before they could be gassed or killed by the Nazis.
People From The Camp
Ernst Cohen
He was a chemist during the holocaust. He wrote more than 400 papers, and multiple books. He was also credited with closing the gap between European and German scientists. On March 5, 1944, he was killed in a gas chamber in Auschwitz.
Hana Brady
She was only 13 when she killed in a gas chamber at Auschwitz. Her story gained attention when a Japanese social worker showcased her suitcase. Then, Kevin Levine wrote a book about her story.
Rudolf Höss
Rudolf Hoss was the first commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp. He was first commandant from May 4, 1940, to November 10, 1943.
Auschwitz II- Birkenau
Facts and Statistics
- Auschwitz II-Birkenau began in October of 1941.
- Of the three camps, Birkenau had the largest total prisoner population.
- Auschwitz II-Birkenau had the same purpose as the original Auschwitz.
- Four large crematoriums buildings were constructed between March and June of 1943. Each one had a undressing area, a gas chamber, and crematorium ovens.
- During the summer of 1944, which was Auschwitz's peak, there were 105,000 registered people and 30,000 were unregistered. That makes up 25% of all the people in the entire concentration camp system.
- At least 1.1 million people were killed at Auschwitz.
- The SS continued gassing operations at Auschwitz-Birkenau until November 1944.
Pictures
Railway Entrance To Birkenau
Aerial View of Birkenau
German Officer with Dead Bodies
Daily Life of Prisoners
- Prisoners were transported from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
- Prisoners lived in the same small barracks that they had at Auschwitz I.
- Access to bathrooms was also extremely limited.
- They either wore striped, pajama-like uniforms, or they wore plain uniforms. Every person was issued clothing to wear, and every uniform had the number that was assigned to the person.
- People were either sent to be executed/gassed immediately, or they were forced to do manual labor until they either died or were sent to be killed.
- People did labor such as making weapons for the Nazi army, working in stores and workshops, and working for the SS companies.
- People did not receive much food and had poor, dirty living conditions. They sometimes died of starvation or disease before they could be gassed or killed by the Nazis.
Important Figures From The Camp
Abraham Icek Tuschinski
He was a Dutch business man who created the Tuschinski Theatre in Amsterdam. It was the biggest theatre in the Netherlands at the time. He also opened the Grand Theatre. However, when the city was bombed in World War II, he was arrested and murdered at Auschwitz.
Fritz Hartjenstein
After the division of the Auschwitz camp into three camps, Fritz Hartjenstein became the commandant of Auschwitz II-Birkenau. He was commandant from November 22, 1943, to May 8, 1944.
Josef Kramer
Joseph Kramer followed Fritz Hartjenstein in becoming the commandant of Auschwitz II-Birkenau. He was the commandant from May 4, 1944, to November 25, 1944.