Auschwitz one was originally meant to hold polish prisoners, however, as time passed the Gestapo begun to deport soviet prisoners of war, political prisoners, members of the resistance and eventually gypsies and Jews to the camp. Due to an increased number in inmates, the Nazis needed more territory to place them all. As a result, an enormous death camp was built three kilometres away from Auschwitz one called Auschwitz Birkenau. The inmates were condemned to death and used as cheap labour by the SS. This camp became the symbol of terror and genocide and contained four crematoria, gas chambers, pyres and pits.
On arrival to Auschwitz Birkenau, Sarah and I went into the watch tower which effectively gave a clear view of the entire camp. It is situated directly above the railway and the entrance to the death camp. Prior to the visit I had been informed that it was the largest of all the camps of mass extermination; it was approximately 425 acres and had contained over 300 buildings within it. This fact encapsulates the size of it; in august 1944 the total number of prisoners reached approximately 100,000. This was possibly one of the most disturbing sights to see considering how many people suffered there. Furthermore, the camp was situated near forests which are normally associated with a thriving wildlife. However, the tranquillity of the place was startling. I saw no bird, no animal, and the grass was scarce. Yet, somehow, out of the quietness I felt a loud sense of unease and grief. One thing the group commented on was the stark contrast between the concept of the camp, and the beautiful weather. Despite the sunshine, the place still reeked of death and sorrow.
Under the watch tower was the railway. It ran all the way to the other side of the camp and would have carried deportees from all over the world. Either side of the railway were two unloading ramps whereby the infamous ‘selection’ process would take place. This was the place where families and friends, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons would be separated and sent their destiny. Victims would often be quite brutally forces out of the tiny train wagons after days of travelling whereby SS guards with guns would separate men and women into two lines. The trucks were of an unimaginably small size and up to 100 people could be forced into one. Many people died en route to Auschwitz due to suffocation or starvation within these compartments. When the holocaust survivor ‘Kitty Hart Moxen’ gave us her account of her experience she told us that to be sent towards the gas chambers meant you would be sent to your death, and if one was sent the other way, they would remain alive merely to endure exhausting labour every day. On average, almost 80% of those arriving from each transportation were immediately sent to the gas chambers.
Subsequently, Sarah and I visited the prisoner’s barracks. Very few were brick and the rest were wooden. Many of the wooden buildings had once served as field stables for 52 horses and were soon housing up to 1,000 prisoners. It was hard to imagine that so many people could fit into one of these barracks, never mind sleep in one. Most of the victims would sleep in three tier berths whereby on one level, an average of 8 people would lie. Furthermore, it was not uncommon that rats and other animals and insects bringing epidemics. The inmates were subjected to a lack of water; terrible sanitary conditions, inadequate clothing and barely any food. Chimney flues were built inside and the smoke passing through was supposed to heat the room; however, we were informed that these were infrequently used.
- Aggie
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