Auschwitz

Auschwitz: see Oświęcim, Poland.

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Auschwitz

 or Auschwitz-Birkenau

Nazi Germany's largest concentration camp and extermination camp, located in southern Poland (modern Oswiecim). It consisted of three camps (prison, extermination, and forced labour), established in 1940, 1941 (Birkenau), and 1942. Able-bodied Jewish prisoners were sent to a slave-labour camp, while the aged, the weak, and children and their mothers were killed. Some prisoners were also subjected to medical experiments, conducted by Josef Mengele. The camp was gradually abandoned in 1944–45 as Soviet troops advanced. The total number who died at Auschwitz is estimated at between 1.1 million and 1.5 million, 90% of which were Jews; also among the dead were some 19,000 Roma (Gypsies), who were killed in July 1944, and some 83,000 Poles. Much of the camp was later converted into a museum and memorial. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. See also Holocaust.

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Auschwitz

an industrial town in S Poland; site of a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Pop.: 45 400 (latest est.)

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Auschwitz

largest Nazi extermination camp; more than 1,000,000 deaths there. [Ger. Hist.: Hitler, 958–959, 970, 1123]

See : Genocide

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Auschwitz

a concentration camp built by the fascist German regime on occupied Polish territory near the town whose German name is Auschwitz (Polish name, Oświe̢cim), near Kraków. Construction of the camp, which covered an area of approximately 500 hectares, began in 1940. It was a vast complex for the extermination of human beings, utilizing the most up-to-date technology. During the camp’s existence, more than 4 million people were exterminated—citizens of the USSR, Poland, France, Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and other countries.

In spite of the savage terror in the camp, a network of underground cells and combat groups was organized by Communists. In the fall of 1944, the central leadership of the organized resistance in the camp made preparations for an armed uprising. Several groups of prisoners went into action spontaneously before the appointed time, however, and the uprising was suppressed. More than 200 people died bearing arms. The Hitlerites dealt savagely with the remaining prisoners. On Jan. 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the few remaining survivors of Auschwitz.

A museum has been established at the site of the camp. In September 1958 the International Auschwitz Committee was organized.

REFERENCES

Niurnbergskii protsess, vol. 4. Moscow, 1959. Pages 295–557.
Kraus, O., and E. Kulka. Fabrika smerti. Moscow, 1960. (Translated from Czech.)

G. D. KOMKOV