Auschwitz was a network of concentration camps and extermination camps established by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and served as the central hub for the Holocaust, where over 1.1 million people were murdered, the vast majority being Jewish.
Auschwitz was located in Oswiecim, Poland, approximately 60 kilometers west of Krakow. The camp complex consisted of three main parts:
The first camp, Auschwitz I, was established in May 1940, initially as a concentration camp for Polish political prisoners. Over time, its purpose evolved to include the extermination of Jews as part of the Final Solution policy. Construction of Auschwitz II-Birkenau began in October 1941, designed to handle the large number of Jews deported from across Europe. The camp's system was instrumental in the implementation of the genocide:
Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Union's Red Army on January 27, 1945. This date is now recognized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Upon liberation, only around 7,000 prisoners were found alive, the others having been either killed or evacuated during the Death Marches as the Nazi forces retreated.
Today, Auschwitz serves as a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving the site as a testament to the atrocities committed there. It educates visitors about the Holocaust, promotes remembrance, and serves as a warning against hatred and genocide. The site includes:
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