Auschwitz Birkenau - German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945)

Destroyed Gas and Crematorium

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Another one of the four destroyed death buildings. -Auschwitz II

Expansion

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New sewage plant for the expansion of Auschwitz II. With 90,000 overcrowded prisoners, an entire second part of the camp was to be built to double the current one. It was never finished due to the end of the war approaching. -Auschwitz II

Wheelbarrow

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This wheelbarrow was used to carry bodies from the gas chambers down the hall to the crematorium. Later it was also used to dump the ashes in the nearby ponds. -Auschwitz II

Showers

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Upon entering the camp, prisoners would be stripped, shaved everywhere, tattooed with a number, showered and disinfected. -Auschwitz II

Disinfection Showers

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The entrance to the disinfection area. -Auschwitz II

Sauna

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Named the sauna, this is the cleansing and registration building. All new inmates would be shaved, tattooed with a number, disinfected and catergorized here. -Auschwitz II

Canada Building

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This is where all the belongings of inmates would be sorted and stored. Any valuables would be send to Germany. Named Canada because it was used in Polish as an expression when viewing a valuable and fine gift. The expression comes from the time when Polish emigrants were sending gifts home from Canada. Many buildings like this were destroyed by the returning Polish after the war, the bricks were taken to rebuild their lost homes. -Auschwitz II

Outdoor Burnings

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With so many bodies piling up from the gas chambers. Crematoriums couldn't keep pace and so piles of bodies were also burned in the fields outside the gas chambers. This photo was actaully taken by a newly arriving prisoner, prior to being processed. -Auschwitz II

Field of Ashes

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Here marks the field where thousands of bodies of vicitms were burned. -Auschwitz II

Crematorium Remains

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What remains of a crematorium furnace at the end of a gas chamber. -Auschwitz II

Another Pond of Ashes

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There were about 6 to 8 ponds like this used to dump the ashes of the remains. -Auschwitz II

Awaiting Extermination

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New Jews arrive in such large numbers they must wait in a wooded area just 20 feet from the gas chambers for their time. -Auschwitz II

So Massive

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I tried to capture the enormous size of the camp. It took us over 3 hours to walk around the main perimeter. Not including the planned expansion. -Auschwitz II

Stables for Humans

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With overcrowding, the horse stables were turned into barracks for the inmates. -Auschwitz II

Camp Panoramic

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Another attemp to capture the massive size of the camp. -Auschwitz II

Wardrobe

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The clothes of an inmate.

Shoes

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Thousands of victims' shoes found in the warehouses (Canada buildings). This pile stretched for about 90 feet.

Death Wall

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Located in Auschwitz I, this wall was used to shoot the first victims of the camps. Later Cyanide (named "Zyklon B") was tested, and Auschwitz II was built for quicker extermination by gas.

Dark Cells

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This chamber would be sealed tight and only the small hole at the top would allow air into the cell. Eventually the prisoner would suffocate. To speed this up, candles would be placed by the window to burn the oxygen faster. -Auschwitz I

Standing Cells

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Here four inmates would be stuffed in and would only allow for them to stand all night, until the next morning where they would go back to work. -Auschwitz I

Halt!

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Warning signs placed around the edges of Auschwitz I. Prisoners caught past these signs without permission would be shot.