Why Auschwitz?Why Auschwitz?

The Choice of Auschwitz as the The Choice of Auschwitz as the Principal Nazi Death CampPrincipal Nazi Death Camp

Geographical significanceGeographical significance

In 1900 Auschwitz stands inside Austria at In 1900 Auschwitz stands inside Austria at the point where 3 empires meet: German, the point where 3 empires meet: German, Austro-Hungarian, and RussianAustro-Hungarian, and Russian

Becomes a popular crossing-point for Becomes a popular crossing-point for illegal immigrants (in large number illegal immigrants (in large number OstjudenOstjuden) from Russia to Germany) from Russia to Germany

Austrians move soldiers in to keep order Austrians move soldiers in to keep order and control flow of immigrantsand control flow of immigrants

Pre-Nazi AuschwitzPre-Nazi Auschwitz

The 3-storey Austrian barracks form the The 3-storey Austrian barracks form the core of what later becomes the base area core of what later becomes the base area ((StammlagerStammlager) of the concentration camp) of the concentration camp

Despite a strong German minority, the town Despite a strong German minority, the town votes to become Polish after WW1, votes to become Polish after WW1, following a plebiscite held by the Alliesfollowing a plebiscite held by the Allies

As revenge for this, Hitler annexes the town As revenge for this, Hitler annexes the town directly into Silesia after defeating Polanddirectly into Silesia after defeating Poland

Why a concentration camp?Why a concentration camp?

Part of Himmler’s plans for the Part of Himmler’s plans for the Germanization of the EastGermanization of the East

Around July 1940 Prof. Konrad Meyer Around July 1940 Prof. Konrad Meyer convinced Himmler of need to create a convinced Himmler of need to create a strong ethnic German enclave here to plug strong ethnic German enclave here to plug the gap between Poles and Czechsthe gap between Poles and Czechs

Also offered possibilities for economic Also offered possibilities for economic exploitation, here a sand and gravel plantexploitation, here a sand and gravel plant

Creation of the KZCreation of the KZ

By early summer 1940 concentration camp By early summer 1940 concentration camp set upset up– To terrorize the local populationTo terrorize the local population– To act as transit camp for forced laborers en To act as transit camp for forced laborers en

route to Germanyroute to Germany By 1937 the KZ population inside Germany By 1937 the KZ population inside Germany

had dwindled to 10,000had dwindled to 10,000 Himmler wanted to keep them going in part Himmler wanted to keep them going in part

because of a labor shortagebecause of a labor shortage

Construction difficultiesConstruction difficulties

Armed forces had priority for raw materials Armed forces had priority for raw materials during warduring war

Himmler had plans for a huge agricultural Himmler had plans for a huge agricultural experimental station, but could not obtain experimental station, but could not obtain materialsmaterials

Commandant Rudolf HCommandant Rudolf Höss even had great öss even had great difficulties in finding barbed wiredifficulties in finding barbed wire

He couldn’t even get his hands on enough He couldn’t even get his hands on enough wood to build rabbit hutcheswood to build rabbit hutches

The Golden OpportunityThe Golden Opportunity

In 1941 IG-Farben, the chemicals giant, In 1941 IG-Farben, the chemicals giant, picked the town of Auschwitz as site of its picked the town of Auschwitz as site of its hi-tech development planthi-tech development plant

It was close to the Silesian coal mining It was close to the Silesian coal mining towns, but unlike them had abundant water towns, but unlike them had abundant water supplysupply

Promise of slave labor also attractivePromise of slave labor also attractive

Himmler does a dealHimmler does a deal

Himmler offers slave labor if IG-Farben Himmler offers slave labor if IG-Farben will use its influence with Gwill use its influence with Göring to help öring to help him obtain raw materials for his model farm him obtain raw materials for his model farm scheme for ethnic Germansscheme for ethnic Germans

IG-Farben in turn is prepared to sink 150 IG-Farben in turn is prepared to sink 150 million Marks into Auschwitz, and bring million Marks into Auschwitz, and bring 3,000 employees to town3,000 employees to town

It has an interest in turning the town into a It has an interest in turning the town into a pleasant place to livepleasant place to live

Himmler and BarbarossaHimmler and Barbarossa

At beginning of 1941, Himmler learns from Hitler At beginning of 1941, Himmler learns from Hitler of plans to invade Soviet Unionof plans to invade Soviet Union

Himmler immediately grasps potential for gaining Himmler immediately grasps potential for gaining control over some of the POWscontrol over some of the POWs

Visits Birkenau on 1 March 1941 and approves Visits Birkenau on 1 March 1941 and approves building of huge POW campbuilding of huge POW camp

Local officials less enthusiastic about prospect of Local officials less enthusiastic about prospect of 100,000 POWs just over 1 mile outside town, not 100,000 POWs just over 1 mile outside town, not least because of sewage problems in their least because of sewage problems in their designated clean water areadesignated clean water area

Altered realitiesAltered realities

Plans call for brick barracks, like Plans call for brick barracks, like StammlagerStammlager—time-consuming and labor-—time-consuming and labor-intensive but no problem with 100,000 intensive but no problem with 100,000 workersworkers

In the event only 10,000 assigned to In the event only 10,000 assigned to HimmlerHimmler

Supply problems meant that construction Supply problems meant that construction materials did not arrivematerials did not arrive

Death of the POWsDeath of the POWs

POWs forced to cannibalize the few POWs forced to cannibalize the few existing nearby farm buildingsexisting nearby farm buildings

No proper tools, so had to tear down No proper tools, so had to tear down buildings by hand, and rebuild them on sitebuildings by hand, and rebuild them on site

Between Oct 41-Jan 42 the harsh conditions Between Oct 41-Jan 42 the harsh conditions led to death of 8,000 of the 10,000 inmatesled to death of 8,000 of the 10,000 inmates

Then at end of 1941, GThen at end of 1941, Göring withdrew his öring withdrew his order to provide POWs, telling Himmler he order to provide POWs, telling Himmler he could use Jews insteadcould use Jews instead

Wooden barracks hutsWooden barracks huts

To speed ability of Auschwitz to To speed ability of Auschwitz to accommodate prisoners, allocation at end accommodate prisoners, allocation at end 1941 of 400 wooden huts designed as 1941 of 400 wooden huts designed as stablesstables

Sturdy and lightweight, and could be Sturdy and lightweight, and could be erected by 30 men in one dayerected by 30 men in one day

Held fewer inmates than brick barracks, so Held fewer inmates than brick barracks, so the Birkenau site had to be stretched outthe Birkenau site had to be stretched out

Instant increase in capacityInstant increase in capacity

Initial estimate of 550 prisoners per hut changed Initial estimate of 550 prisoners per hut changed to 744to 744

Each “roost” now took 4 people, not 3Each “roost” now took 4 people, not 3 Originally 12 huts to each kitchen, washing, and Originally 12 huts to each kitchen, washing, and

latrine barrack, now increased to 16latrine barrack, now increased to 16 Each latrine now meant for 7,000 peopleEach latrine now meant for 7,000 people Without adequate sanitation, this spelt disaster in Without adequate sanitation, this spelt disaster in

the event of a typhus outbreakthe event of a typhus outbreak Inadequate washing facilities led to body lice, the Inadequate washing facilities led to body lice, the

most common carrier of typhus virusmost common carrier of typhus virus

CrematoriaCrematoria

Just one small crematorium in Auschwitz IJust one small crematorium in Auschwitz I Birkenau now added 4 huge crematoriaBirkenau now added 4 huge crematoria Architect’s plan betray clear signs of intent to killArchitect’s plan betray clear signs of intent to kill Deniers claim that room next to ovens was a Deniers claim that room next to ovens was a

morgue, but plans show heatermorgue, but plans show heater Zyklon B crystals need heat to activate themZyklon B crystals need heat to activate them Also apparently harmless requests for extra Also apparently harmless requests for extra

wattage from utilities companywattage from utilities company

Further construction plansFurther construction plans

Early 1943 plan shows slide down to alleged Early 1943 plan shows slide down to alleged “mortuary” now changed to steps“mortuary” now changed to steps

Door to shower room changed to open Door to shower room changed to open outwards, not inwards, thus now awkwarding outwards, not inwards, thus now awkwarding blocking access to lift up to ovens on floor blocking access to lift up to ovens on floor aboveabove

Parts order forms show shower heads, but no Parts order forms show shower heads, but no water pipes ordered to connect them withwater pipes ordered to connect them with

Crematorium V, Birkenau, 1944Crematorium V, Birkenau, 1944

ConclusionConclusion

Auschwitz most notorious for mass murder Auschwitz most notorious for mass murder of some 1.1 million victims (mostly Jews)of some 1.1 million victims (mostly Jews)

Himmler’s long-term plans of ethnic Himmler’s long-term plans of ethnic German development in the areaGerman development in the area

Frustrated by GFrustrated by Göring’s reassignment of öring’s reassignment of POWs to armaments industryPOWs to armaments industry

January 42 Auschwitz obtains dual function January 42 Auschwitz obtains dual function of massive forced labor camp, and factory of massive forced labor camp, and factory of deathof death