AuschwitAuschwitz-z-

BirkenauBirkenau

In September 1939,. In September 1939,. The city was occupied The city was occupied

by the Wehrmacht. by the Wehrmacht. Retreating from Retreating from

Auschwitz and Polish Auschwitz and Polish Army blew up the air Army blew up the air bridge over the river bridge over the river Sola, connecting the Sola, connecting the left and right-bank left and right-bank

part of the city. part of the city. Oswiecim was Oswiecim was

incorporated into the incorporated into the Third Reich, Hitler's Third Reich, Hitler's decree of 8 October decree of 8 October

1939.1939.

During the Second During the Second World War was here World War was here the largest German the largest German concentration camp concentration camp and extermination and extermination

center of the center of the Auschwitz-Birkenau. Auschwitz-Birkenau. The complex entered The complex entered

the main camp the main camp Auschwitz I Auschwitz I

Auschwitz, Auschwitz Auschwitz, Auschwitz II-Birkenau Birkenau, II-Birkenau Birkenau,

Auschwitz III-Auschwitz III-Monowitz, the Monowitz, the

Monowitz system and Monowitz system and many sub-camps.many sub-camps.

In 1941., Considering the convenient location of In 1941., Considering the convenient location of the city and the possibility of technical the city and the possibility of technical

commodity area, IG Farben received from the commodity area, IG Farben received from the German government commissioned to build and German government commissioned to build and

run on its eastern outskirts of the chemical run on its eastern outskirts of the chemical factory, which was to produce products needed factory, which was to produce products needed

in time of war for the military.in time of war for the military.

On 27 January 1945. On 27 January 1945. Auschwitz-Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by the Red Birkenau was liberated by the Red

Army - at approx. 3 PM of that day the Army - at approx. 3 PM of that day the soldiers of the 107th Division of the soldiers of the 107th Division of the 60th Army entered the camp area. 60th Army entered the camp area. They were commanded by Major They were commanded by Major

General Vasily Yakovlevich Petrenko.General Vasily Yakovlevich Petrenko.

To this day, it remains a symbol of the To this day, it remains a symbol of the tragic history of mass destruction of 1.1 tragic history of mass destruction of 1.1

- 1.3 million people of different - 1.3 million people of different nationalities and religions. About 90% of nationalities and religions. About 90% of

the victims were Jews. The second the victims were Jews. The second nation among the victims were Poles nation among the victims were Poles

numbering about 75,000.numbering about 75,000.

After liberation, the NKVD formed on its After liberation, the NKVD formed on its premises two transit camps for German premises two transit camps for German

prisoners. The Auschwitz camp prisoners. The Auschwitz camp functioned probably until the autumn of functioned probably until the autumn of

1945, while the second one - founded 1945, while the second one - founded within the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau within the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau in Brzezinka - until the spring of 1946.in Brzezinka - until the spring of 1946.

Approximately Approximately fifteen fifteen

thousand thousand people were in people were in those camps. those camps.

Their Their commander commander was a Soviet was a Soviet

colonel named colonel named Masloboyev.Masloboyev.

Thank you Thank you for watchingfor watching

Group 4Group 4