Auschwitz-Birkenau Site Study
Part I
Auschwitz I
1. How does the article define Auschwitz I?
The camp mainly consisted of men and were initially used for the polish. Later transports of jews
and others were sent there.
2. When was Auschwitz I created?
1940
3. What was the largest ethnic group to be held prisoner at Auschwitz from 1940-1942?
The poles as an ethnic group
4. When did the first Jews arrive in Auschwitz, and where were they held?
In 1944, Birkenau barracks
Auschwitz I: Camp Blocks
1. Who was responsible for adding stories to the blocks in 1940?
Prisoners
2. What was the purpose of the majority of the two-story blocks?
To house prisoners
3. How many prisoners were the two-story blocks designed to hold?
700
4. How many prisoners did the two-story blocks hold in reality?
Up to 1,200
5. Describe the conditions of the prisoners’ rooms in your own words.
Originally, there was no furniture nor beds for the prisoners. Instead they slept on straw stuffed
mattresses which were laid onto the floor and in the morning they were tidied in a pile in the
corner of the room. The rooms were so crowded that prisoners had to sleep on their sides in
three rows. Later three-tiered beds were added but the beds accommodated much more than 3
people at a time. Furniture included, wardrobes, tables, stools and a stone stove (for heating).
The lavatory was used by many prisoners.
, Auschwitz I: Group Gallows
1. What was the purpose of death-by-hanging during roll-calls?
To intimidate prisoners and to instill fear into them which helps maintain the power system.
2. Who was a typical victim of death-by-hanging?
Victims were usually those who were caught attempting to escape and those who are suspected
of planning an escape or an accomplice.
Auschwitz I: Roll-Call Square
1. How long could roll-calls last?
Often lasted several hours, sometimes even a dozen or more hours.
2. What was the main purpose of roll-calls?
The main purpose of roll calls was to keep track of the prisoner population and confirm changes
to them (deaths, transfers, escapes).
3. What did SS officers likely assume if a prisoner was absent at roll-call?
If a prisoner was absent at roll call, the SS officers assumed that it was evidence of an
escpe/attempt.
4. Describe the conditions of roll-calls in your own words.
Roll calls were held in poor weather conditions where some prisoners could die, prisoners had
to stand the entire time and could not leave. If they moved, or left they ewerew brutally beaten
till the stood. The deceased was also required to be there where their bodies were laid out in
browns next to prisoners. During some rolls calls, the sick or exhausted were picked out for the
gas chambers and other times there was public executuoions.,
Part II
Auschwitz II-Birkenau: Main Camp Gate
1. Describe the three main parts of Birkenau in your own words.
- Southern Wing: Housed SS officers with toilets
- Entry Gate:Central part with 2 office rooms
- Smallest part of a transformer station: Reduced voltage from external transmission
networks to campo fence wires
2. Why was the northern wing enlarged in 1943?
For additional guards
Part I
Auschwitz I
1. How does the article define Auschwitz I?
The camp mainly consisted of men and were initially used for the polish. Later transports of jews
and others were sent there.
2. When was Auschwitz I created?
1940
3. What was the largest ethnic group to be held prisoner at Auschwitz from 1940-1942?
The poles as an ethnic group
4. When did the first Jews arrive in Auschwitz, and where were they held?
In 1944, Birkenau barracks
Auschwitz I: Camp Blocks
1. Who was responsible for adding stories to the blocks in 1940?
Prisoners
2. What was the purpose of the majority of the two-story blocks?
To house prisoners
3. How many prisoners were the two-story blocks designed to hold?
700
4. How many prisoners did the two-story blocks hold in reality?
Up to 1,200
5. Describe the conditions of the prisoners’ rooms in your own words.
Originally, there was no furniture nor beds for the prisoners. Instead they slept on straw stuffed
mattresses which were laid onto the floor and in the morning they were tidied in a pile in the
corner of the room. The rooms were so crowded that prisoners had to sleep on their sides in
three rows. Later three-tiered beds were added but the beds accommodated much more than 3
people at a time. Furniture included, wardrobes, tables, stools and a stone stove (for heating).
The lavatory was used by many prisoners.
, Auschwitz I: Group Gallows
1. What was the purpose of death-by-hanging during roll-calls?
To intimidate prisoners and to instill fear into them which helps maintain the power system.
2. Who was a typical victim of death-by-hanging?
Victims were usually those who were caught attempting to escape and those who are suspected
of planning an escape or an accomplice.
Auschwitz I: Roll-Call Square
1. How long could roll-calls last?
Often lasted several hours, sometimes even a dozen or more hours.
2. What was the main purpose of roll-calls?
The main purpose of roll calls was to keep track of the prisoner population and confirm changes
to them (deaths, transfers, escapes).
3. What did SS officers likely assume if a prisoner was absent at roll-call?
If a prisoner was absent at roll call, the SS officers assumed that it was evidence of an
escpe/attempt.
4. Describe the conditions of roll-calls in your own words.
Roll calls were held in poor weather conditions where some prisoners could die, prisoners had
to stand the entire time and could not leave. If they moved, or left they ewerew brutally beaten
till the stood. The deceased was also required to be there where their bodies were laid out in
browns next to prisoners. During some rolls calls, the sick or exhausted were picked out for the
gas chambers and other times there was public executuoions.,
Part II
Auschwitz II-Birkenau: Main Camp Gate
1. Describe the three main parts of Birkenau in your own words.
- Southern Wing: Housed SS officers with toilets
- Entry Gate:Central part with 2 office rooms
- Smallest part of a transformer station: Reduced voltage from external transmission
networks to campo fence wires
2. Why was the northern wing enlarged in 1943?
For additional guards
