Auschwitz
The Auschwitz concentration camp (also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau) was the largest of all of the concentration camps created by the Nazis. Auschwitz was located approximately 37 miles west of Krakow and in southern Poland.
“Sometimes I am asked if I know 'the response to Auschwitz; I answer that not only do I not know it, but that I don't even know if a tragedy of this magnitude has a response.”
- Elie Wiesel
“Sometimes I am asked if I know 'the response to Auschwitz; I answer that not only do I not know it, but that I don't even know if a tragedy of this magnitude has a response.”
- Elie Wiesel
All or most of the concentration camps that were located in Poland were extermination camps. Jews were killed at these camps, and the ones that were not killed were worked until they died. “During the first 3 years at Auschwitz, 2 million people died; over the next 2 years - 3 million.” Witold Pilecki Poland had horribly freezing winters, and they had nothing to keep them warm. In Auschwitz they killed people in gas chambers. Auschwitz has evolved into a symbol of death and the holocaust. “The sad and horrible conclusion is that no one cared that Jews were being murdered... This is the Jewish lesson of the Holocaust and this is the lesson which Auschwitz taught us.” Ariel Sharon |
Mauthausen
Mauthausen was a Nazi-Death camp located in Austria. The construction of the Mathausen concentration camp began on August 8 1938. Mauthausen was the central camp of 49 sub-camps that were permanent. They also had some temporary sub-camps that lasted for a couple of weeks.
Dr. Krebsbach, the chief doctor at Mauthausen until June 1943, which is quoted by Bernadac in his book: "It was on the order of Ziereis, the Kommandant of Mauthausen that Doctor Wasicky, the SS pharmacist, proceeded to organize the installation of a gas chamber. It was he who provided the necessary gas. The first gassing, which I attended in my capacity as doctor, took place early in 1942. From two hundred to three hundred prisoners were gassed. I particularly remember the gassing of about one hundred thirty Czechs who were implicated in the Heydrich affair. Ziereis was present...." |
When the camp began in 1938 there were 300 prisoners. The majority of the prisoners were criminals, by the end of 1938 Mauthausen held 1000 prisoners. On May 3, 1945 the population grew to 64,800 men and 1,734 women, these were only the registered people. There were about 15,000 non-registered. At the least 95,000 died there. Mauthausen was originally for the extremely horrible criminals, but unfortuatly turned into a concentration camp.
“In 1942 a gas chamber resembling a shower room was built next to the incinerator. Gas executions were carried out in the gas chamber approximately three times a week and the bodies were burned in the adjoining incinerator. From my guard post I could hear the sound of the victims pounding on the door when the gas was turned on.” - The Affidavit of SS member Alois Hoellriegl, a guard at Mauthausen.