Auschwitz I – Where Auschwitz History Started
The sound of footsteps on cobblestones, whispers of pain, and the silence of laughter – Auschwitz I was a dark chapter in history. It shows us the horrors of the Holocaust. This period revealed the worst of humanity.
Auschwitz I started in 1940 near Oswiecim, a Polish city taken over by the Third Reich. It saw its first prisoners from Tarnów on June 14, 1940. It was the start of a place that would become the largest and most infamous Nazi camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.
For those forced from their homes, Auschwitz was a place of endless pain. It was filled with barbed wire, watchtowers, and endless suffering. The Shoah, a tragedy that killed millions, had a major part of its story here. The Nazis used it for their “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.”
The camp grew and changed, becoming a machine of death. It started with 15,000 to 20,000 political prisoners. Later, it held many innocent people caught in a wave of hatred and genocide.
Auschwitz’s horrors went beyond its main camp, reaching to subcamps and its peak at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. But it was at Auschwitz I that the story began. We must remember this story to stop history from repeating itself.
The Establishment of Auschwitz I
The Germans set up Auschwitz I on April 27, 1940, near Oswiecim in Poland. It was made to handle the many arrests of Poles. This led to the city’s name change to Auschwitz.
At first, it was just another Nazi camp. But soon, it became a place of great horror. By March 1941, over 10,000 prisoners, mostly Polish political prisoners, were there. Adolf Hitler’s Final Solution made it a key site for the World War II genocide.
Later, Auschwitz II (Birkenau) was added in March 1941, holding over 100,000 inmates. Auschwitz III (Monowitz) started in October 1942, where prisoners worked in a synthetic rubber factory. There were also 45 other camps nearby, adding to the horror.
| Key Events | Details |
|---|---|
| 27 April 1940 | Auschwitz I established by Germans |
| 14 June 1940 | First transport of Polish political prisoners |
| March 1941 | Auschwitz II (Birkenau) establishment began |
| October 1942 | Auschwitz III (Monowitz) began operations |
| 27 January 1945 | Allied forces entered Auschwitz and liberated remaining prisoners |
Under Adolf Hitler’s Final Solution, Auschwitz I was key in the Nazi genocide. It aimed to kill Jews, Romani people, and others seen as unwanted.
Auschwitz I: The Original Camp
Auschwitz I was once Polish Army barracks. It became a key part of the Auschwitz main camp complex in June 1940. This camp is a sad reminder of the horrors during World War II in Poland.
The camp’s design set the stage for the horrors that followed. Its gate, with the sign „Arbeit Macht Frei” („Work Sets You Free”), symbolises the cruel treatment of prisoners. By August 1944, it held about 16,000 prisoners, including over 10,000 Jews and many Poles and others.
Auschwitz I grew to be a major part of the Nazi camps. It held Jewish victims, political prisoners, Romani, and Soviet soldiers. This made it a key site in World War II Poland.
Many people suffered here: at least 1.3 million were held, and 1.1 million died. Despite the dangers, 802 prisoners tried to escape. Only 144 made it out.
Women prisoners worked in munitions production by October 1944. Auschwitz I was meant for political prisoners but became a key place for the Nazis to kill Jews and others.
Famous prisoners like Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel were held here. The Soviet forces freed Auschwitz I on 27 January 1945. This marked the end of its dark history but reminds us of the Holocaust horrors.
| Statistic | Measure |
|---|---|
| Peak Size in Summer 1944 | 40 sq. km. |
| Total Population at Peak | 135,000 individuals |
| Proportion in Concentration Camp System | 25% |
| Auschwitz I Population (August 1944) | 16,000 prisoners |
| Location Coordinates | 50°02′09″N 19°10′42″E |
| Number of Inmates | 1.3 million people |
| Number Killed | 1.1 million individuals |
| Successful Escapes | 144 prisoners |
| SS Personnel Tried | 789 individuals |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | Designated in 1979 |
Auschwitz I’s history shows the huge suffering during World War II in Poland and at the Auschwitz main camp. It’s a site of deep tragedy.
Auschwitz I: Life and Conditions
Life in Auschwitz I was hard for many inmates. They faced extreme suffering due to overcrowding. The camp started with 20 brick buildings and grew to 28 by mid-1942. These buildings were meant for 700 prisoners but held up to 1,200.
The camp had poor sanitation, leading to many diseases. By 1943, they added bathhouses and disinfectors, but it was still bad. The large number of prisoners made the conditions worse, with lice and rats everywhere. Survivors remember the harsh conditions vividly.
Prisoners worked over ten hours a day. A decree in March 1942 made eleven hours the minimum workday. Those doing hard work got 1,700 calories a day, but it was still not enough to survive.
The Nazis used public executions to scare the inmates. They hanged prisoners during roll call. At least 2,000 Soviet prisoners were killed with poison gas. These acts left deep scars on survivors.
The German IG Farbenindustrie cartel used prisoner labour at their Buna-Werke factory. This led to the deaths of about 10,000 prisoners. The creation of SS-Totenkopfsturmbann KL Auschwitz III in May 1944 showed the Nazis’ brutal exploitation of prisoners.
Here’s a summary of living conditions and mortality:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial Buildings | 20 brick buildings, later expanded to 28 two-storey blocks |
| Capacity per Block | Designed for 700 prisoners, often housed up to 1,200 |
| Daily Work Hours | Minimum of 11 hours per WVHA decree |
| Caloric Intake | 1,700 calories for physically demanding labour, 1,300 calories otherwise |
| Sanitary Conditions | Limited and inadequate; frequent epidemics |
| Public Executions | Hanging during roll call, at least 2,000 Soviet POWs gassed |
| Deaths from Forced Labour | Around 10,000 working for IG Farben |
The Role of Auschwitz I in the Final Solution
Auschwitz I was key in the Holocaust and the Nazi „Endlösung”. From early 1942, it got a small number of Jews and non-Jewish prisoners, mainly Poles. By mid-1942, most people coming to Auschwitz I were Jews. This change showed the Jewish genocide was getting worse.
Auschwitz I had gas chambers and crematoria. These were vital for the Nazis to kill Jews on a huge scale. It’s known as Auschwitz I and is thought to have killed 1.1 million to 1.5 million people.
Almost 85% of those brought to Auschwitz were Jews, and they made up about 90% of the dead. The camp was near Kraków, in a perfect spot for secret mass killings. It was part of the Nazi plan to wipe out Jews.
Before Auschwitz, around 800,000 Jews and Polish prisoners were killed in mass shootings and gas vans. Auschwitz I started with 30,000 Polish prisoners in June 1940. By October 1942, Auschwitz III – Monowitz became a labour camp, leading to death in gas chambers for weak workers.
About 1.3 million people were brought to Auschwitz from 1940 to 1945, and 1.1 million were killed. Most, around 1.095 million, were Jews. Non-Jewish Poles were deported 140,000-150,000 times, with 74,000 deaths. Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others were also targeted.
In its last days, Birkenau focused on killing Jews and Roma. Hungary sent over 426,000 people to their deaths in 1944. The crematoria at Birkenau could burn more than 4,000 bodies a day, reaching 10,000 in spring 1944. This shows how efficient the Nazis were in killing.
Auschwitz I and Its Subdivisions
Auschwitz I was the main part of the Nazi death camps. It started in June 1940. It grew to include Auschwitz II (Birkenau), Auschwitz III (Monowitz), and many sub-camps. These parts each had their own role in the camp system.
A key event was when Auschwitz-Birkenau started in March 1942. It was where most people were killed. By October, Auschwitz III Monowitz was made. It was an industrial camp where prisoners worked for German companies.
The table below shows how Auschwitz changed and what each part did:
| Year | Subdivision | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Auschwitz I | Main camp and central employment office |
| 1942 | Auschwitz II (Birkenau) | Mass extermination and concentration complex |
| 1942 | Auschwitz III (Monowitz) | Industrial camp, prisoner labor rented to companies |
| 1943-1944 | Auschwitz I | Central administrative functions |
| 1944-1945 | KL Auschwitz | Combined Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II |
| 1944-1945 | KL Monowitz | Renamed from Auschwitz III |
The sub-camps helped the German war effort by using prisoner labor. All camps reported to the main camp at Auschwitz I. The SS controlled the area around the camps, pushing out Polish and Jewish people.
Auschwitz-Birkenau, Auschwitz III Monowitz, and their sub-camps show the extreme cruelty of the Holocaust. Over a million people died at Auschwitz, most of whom were Jewish. This highlights the Nazis’ plan to kill millions of innocent people.
The Liberation of Auschwitz I
On January 27, 1945, the Soviet army freed Auschwitz, showing the horrors of the Holocaust. This was a key moment in World War II. As the Nazis knew they were losing, they tried to destroy evidence by blowing up parts of the camp and burning records.
When the Soviet army came, they found about 7,600 survivors. Many were very sick and thin. They saw the terrible truth: lots of dead bodies, personal stuff, and human hair. They found many things, including:
- Forty-four thousand pairs of shoes
- Personal belongings from those deported
- Records showing about 1.1 million deaths at Auschwitz
Between May 2 and July 9, 1944, over 425,000 Hungarian Jews were brought to Auschwitz. This shows how important the camp was in the Nazi’s plan to kill many people. In all, more than 1.3 million people went to Auschwitz, and about 85% of them died.
| Details | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Remaining Prisoners at Liberation | 7,600 |
| Total Deported from May 2 – July 9, 1944 | 425,000 |
| Estimated Deaths at Auschwitz | 1.1 million |
| Soviet Soldiers Who Died During Liberation | 230 |
The liberation was a very important moment for both the survivors and the soldiers. The Nazis tried to hide their crimes, but the liberation of Auschwitz showed the world what they did. Over 230 Soviet soldiers died, but their sacrifice helped free Auschwitz. This event is a key part of World War II history.
Auschwitz I as a Memorial and Museum
Auschwitz I is now a key symbol of remembering the Holocaust. It is kept as the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. This place is crucial for teaching about the Holocaust, making sure we don’t forget or repeat such horrors.
Visitors come all year to learn about one of history’s darkest times. There are guided tours in many languages. These tours last from 2.5 to 6 hours, showing the deep history of the place.
With 2.3 million visitors in 2019, booking guides early is a must. The museum has lots to show, like personal items from prisoners. There are 40 m³ of shoes and over 3,800 suitcases, some with names of the owners.
There are also hundreds of camp clothes, kitchen tools, and art. These items remind us of the huge loss and suffering.
The museum has special exhibitions in Block 2 and 3 of Auschwitz I and in the Birkenau hospital barracks. These tours, in person or online, take you deep into the life of the camps. They show the harsh reality of the genocide.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum teaches us about the Holocaust’s horrors. It aims to educate and warn the world. It wants to make sure such events never happen again.
FAQ
What is the origin of Auschwitz I?
Auschwitz I started in 1940 near Oswiecim, Poland. It was made by Nazi Germany for holding many Polish citizens. Later, it was used to kill Jews and others the Nazis didn’t like.
How was Auschwitz I initially used?
At first, Auschwitz I was a normal Nazi concentration camp for Polish political prisoners. It then became a place for both holding prisoners and killing people as part of Hitler’s Final Solution.
What conditions did prisoners face in Auschwitz I?
Prisoners in Auschwitz I suffered a lot. They were hungry, worked hard, and lived in crowded places. They were always scared of being killed. The sign „Arbeit Macht Frei” at the entrance was a lie about the true horrors inside.
What was Auschwitz I’s role in the Final Solution?
From 1942, Auschwitz I was key to the Nazi’s Final Solution. It killed Jews using gas chambers and crematoria. Over 1.1 to 1.5 million Jews died there.
What were the subdivisions of Auschwitz I?
Auschwitz I was part of a big network with Auschwitz II (Birkenau) and Auschwitz III (Monowitz), plus over 40 smaller camps. Auschwitz II was where most people were killed. Auschwitz III was important for the war effort because prisoners worked hard there.
When was Auschwitz I liberated?
The Soviet army freed Auschwitz I on January 27, 1945. They found about 7,600 survivors and lots of evidence of the horrors there.
What is Auschwitz I today?
Now, Auschwitz I is the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. It’s a place to remember the Holocaust and teach people about it. The museum helps us remember the past to stop such things from happening again.