Why Auschwitz?

1. Why Auschwitz? The Choice of Auschwitz as the Principal Nazi Death Camp

2. Geographical significance • In 1900 Auschwitz stands inside Austria at the point where 3 empires meet: German, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian • Becomes a popular crossing-point for illegal immigrants (in large number Ostjuden) from Russia to Germany • Austrians move soldiers in to keep order and control flow of immigrants

3. Pre-Nazi Auschwitz • The 3-storey Austrian barracks form the core of what later becomes the base area (Stammlager) of the concentration camp • Despite a strong German minority, the town votes to become Polish after WW1, following a plebiscite held by the Allies • As revenge for this, Hitler annexes the town directly into Silesia after defeating Poland

4. Why a concentration camp? • Part of Himmler’s plans for the Germanization of the East • Around July 1940 Prof. Konrad Meyer convinced Himmler of need to create a strong ethnic German enclave here to plug the gap between Poles and Czechs • Also offered possibilities for economic exploitation, here a sand and gravel plant

6. Creation of the KZ • By early summer 1940 concentration camp set up • To terrorize the local population • To act as transit camp for forced laborers en route to Germany • By 1937 the KZ population inside Germany had dwindled to 10,000 • Himmler wanted to keep them going in part because of a labor shortage

7. Construction difficulties • Armed forces had priority for raw materials during war • Himmler had plans for a huge agricultural experimental station, but could not obtain materials • Commandant Rudolf Höss even had great difficulties in finding barbed wire • He couldn’t even get his hands on enough wood to build rabbit hutches

8. The Golden Opportunity • In 1941 IG-Farben, the chemicals giant, picked the town of Auschwitz as site of its hi-tech development plant • It was close to the Silesian coal mining towns, but unlike them had abundant water supply • Promise of slave labor also attractive

9. Himmler does a deal • Himmler offers slave labor if IG-Farben will use its influence with Göring to help him obtain raw materials for his model farm scheme for ethnic Germans • IG-Farben in turn is prepared to sink 150 million Marks into Auschwitz, and bring 3,000 employees to town • It has an interest in turning the town into a pleasant place to live

10. Himmler and Barbarossa • At beginning of 1941, Himmler learns from Hitler of plans to invade Soviet Union • Himmler immediately grasps potential for gaining control over some of the POWs • Visits Birkenau on 1 March 1941 and approves building of huge POW camp • Local officials less enthusiastic about prospect of 100,000 POWs just over 1 mile outside town, not least because of sewage problems in their designated clean water area

11. Altered realities • Plans call for brick barracks, like Stammlager—time-consuming and labor-intensive but no problem with 100,000 workers • In the event only 10,000 assigned to Himmler • Supply problems meant that construction materials did not arrive

12. Death of the POWs • POWs forced to cannibalize the few existing nearby farm buildings • No proper tools, so had to tear down buildings by hand, and rebuild them on site • Between Oct 41-Jan 42 the harsh conditions led to death of 8,000 of the 10,000 inmates • Then at end of 1941, Göring withdrew his order to provide POWs, telling Himmler he could use Jews instead

13. Wooden barracks huts • To speed ability of Auschwitz to accommodate prisoners, allocation at end 1941 of 400 wooden huts designed as stables • Sturdy and lightweight, and could be erected by 30 men in one day • Held fewer inmates than brick barracks, so the Birkenau site had to be stretched out

14. Instant increase in capacity • Initial estimate of 550 prisoners per hut changed to 744 • Each “roost” now took 4 people, not 3 • Originally 12 huts to each kitchen, washing, and latrine barrack, now increased to 16 • Each latrine now meant for 7,000 people • Without adequate sanitation, this spelt disaster in the event of a typhus outbreak • Inadequate washing facilities led to body lice, the most common carrier of typhus virus

15. Crematoria • Just one small crematorium in Auschwitz I • Birkenau now added 4 huge crematoria • Architect’s plan betray clear signs of intent to kill • Deniers claim that room next to ovens was a morgue, but plans show heater • Zyklon B crystals need heat to activate them • Also apparently harmless requests for extra wattage from utilities company

16. Further construction plans • Early 1943 plan shows slide down to alleged “mortuary” now changed to steps • Door to shower room changed to open outwards, not inwards, thus now awkwarding blocking access to lift up to ovens on floor above • Parts order forms show shower heads, but no water pipes ordered to connect them with

17. Crematorium V, Birkenau, 1944

18. Conclusion • Auschwitz most notorious for mass murder of some 1.1 million victims (mostly Jews) • Himmler’s long-term plans of ethnic German development in the area • Frustrated by Göring’s reassignment of POWs to armaments industry • January 42 Auschwitz obtains dual function of massive forced labor camp, and factory of death