Being the 75th anniversary of the camp's liberation recently, I thought I would share some images I took during a visit 18 years ago. They are scans of 35mm film prints, so aren't the clearest.
The entrance to Auschwitz I, the former Polish artillery barracks to the south of Oświęcim, and the infamous sign at the entrance to the camp. Auschwitz was originally established as a labour camp for the I G Farben synthetics factory at Dwory three miles from the barracks.
Auschwitz I 01
The inmates lived in squalor, with over a hundred crammed into these small rooms at a time, with no furniture of any sort.
Auschwitz I 04
Zyklon B was manufactured by I G Farben and was originally used as rat poison. Auschwitz didn't become an extermination camp until the construction of what became Auschwitz II at Brzezinka, Birkenau to the Germans.
Auschwitz I 06
After the construction of the Birkenau site, Auschwitz I was where prisoners other than factory workers and those to be exterminated were kept. Political prisoners, even POWs found themselves here.
Auschwitz I 09
Causes of death were manifold and punishment was severe - gallows.
Auschwitz I 14
Disposal of the dead was always a problem at the KLs and the camp furnace was too small to meet demand.
Auschwitz I 17
Auschwitz II Birkenau was purpose built and was an enormous site. It's sole purpose was as a sorting and extermination camp. The entrance through the guardhouse.
Auschwitz II 01
Inmates arrived by rail to be sorted for the factory site, Auschwitz III Monowitz at Dwory, or for extermination in the gas chambers at the end of the railway line, since demolished.
Auschwitz II 04
For those unfortunate enough to be selected for housing at Auschwitz II, life was dreadful and disease was rife. Toward the end of the war the disposal furnaces were working overtime to keep up with demand. Many of the buildings were pulled down because of disease, but some remain.
Auschwitz II 07
The ruins of the gas chambers. This was one of the 'shower' rooms. Inmates were herded into here for what they thought was for a shower, after leaving their possessions in piles in the entrance. There were nozzles that resembled shower heads from where the Zyklon B emanated. Death was slow and agonising and often there were survivors in immense pain struggling for breath amid the piles of bodies.
Auschwitz II 11
The memorial stone on the site of the gas chambers.
Auschwitz II 12
Looking due east toward the guardhouse, the factory site at Dwory can be seen in the distance. Originally I G Farben Buna Werke, ther factory made synthetic rubber for the German war machine, the factory was never closed down after liberation and reopened to manufacture synthetic fuels eight months later in September 1945. it is still in action today as Synthos Chemical Technologies.
Auschwitz II 13
Auschwitz II 15
More images here: Konzentrationslager Auschwitz
Thanks for looking.
The entrance to Auschwitz I, the former Polish artillery barracks to the south of Oświęcim, and the infamous sign at the entrance to the camp. Auschwitz was originally established as a labour camp for the I G Farben synthetics factory at Dwory three miles from the barracks.
The inmates lived in squalor, with over a hundred crammed into these small rooms at a time, with no furniture of any sort.
Zyklon B was manufactured by I G Farben and was originally used as rat poison. Auschwitz didn't become an extermination camp until the construction of what became Auschwitz II at Brzezinka, Birkenau to the Germans.
After the construction of the Birkenau site, Auschwitz I was where prisoners other than factory workers and those to be exterminated were kept. Political prisoners, even POWs found themselves here.
Causes of death were manifold and punishment was severe - gallows.
Disposal of the dead was always a problem at the KLs and the camp furnace was too small to meet demand.
Auschwitz II Birkenau was purpose built and was an enormous site. It's sole purpose was as a sorting and extermination camp. The entrance through the guardhouse.
Inmates arrived by rail to be sorted for the factory site, Auschwitz III Monowitz at Dwory, or for extermination in the gas chambers at the end of the railway line, since demolished.
For those unfortunate enough to be selected for housing at Auschwitz II, life was dreadful and disease was rife. Toward the end of the war the disposal furnaces were working overtime to keep up with demand. Many of the buildings were pulled down because of disease, but some remain.
The ruins of the gas chambers. This was one of the 'shower' rooms. Inmates were herded into here for what they thought was for a shower, after leaving their possessions in piles in the entrance. There were nozzles that resembled shower heads from where the Zyklon B emanated. Death was slow and agonising and often there were survivors in immense pain struggling for breath amid the piles of bodies.
The memorial stone on the site of the gas chambers.
Looking due east toward the guardhouse, the factory site at Dwory can be seen in the distance. Originally I G Farben Buna Werke, ther factory made synthetic rubber for the German war machine, the factory was never closed down after liberation and reopened to manufacture synthetic fuels eight months later in September 1945. it is still in action today as Synthos Chemical Technologies.
More images here: Konzentrationslager Auschwitz
Thanks for looking.
