Auschwitz, the largest and deadliest death camp in Europe during World War II, was the location of the death of between 1.6 million and 2 million prisoners. While most of the inmates were Jews, more than 100,000 non-Jews were also killed at Auschwitz. German technology was "thoroughly modern" and Germany was the most advanced nation at this point in history, both technologically and culturally. Germany and Poland had been the two nations with the largest Jewish populations in Western / Central Europe; today, the nation in W. Europe with the most Jews is France, along with Russia in E. Europe / Asia.
For those not shot, many were killed in gas chambers. There were a total of 52 ovens built among five crematoria.
David Wongczewki was the first inmate to die, but not the last. Inmates had virtually no rights, and were expected to work (if able) on a starvation diet, consisting of an occasional slice of bread and disgusting coffee or potato peel. Prisoners had very little clothing, meaning they would be freezing terribly in the winter. Those unable to work would be subjected to quick death, those that looked healthier had a chance to survive awhile longer. Several "Schindler" Jews were mistakenly sent to Auschwitz in a paperwork mistake. Terms such as "special treatment" and "final solution" describe NAZI terms for the Jewish question, in which Hitler and other German leaders viewed Jews as "subhuman."
German residents of the newly occupied town were to receive superb living conditions, with beautiful shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. For the prisoners, it was a different story. Not only were Jews and other Nazi "undesirables murdered at Auschwitz, but also Soviet and Polish prisoners were killed there as the NAZIs ignored international rules. (the Geneva Convention)
Jews were divided as to whether Auschwitz should be bombed by the allies, but it didn't happen.


Some argued it was the quickest hope for escape and survival, was others argued it was immoral for the allies to risk killing inncoent prisoners. The U.S. Government had been saying the best hope for the prisoners was the quickest ending (victory) of World War II. Bombs were dropping at nearby military / economic targets; however none were planned to drop on the death camp itself. Apparently, a few bombs did drop though as mistaken "collateral" damage, killing nearly 100 at the camp.
Regular transports arrived daily into Auschwitz from all over Europe, though as a percentage of overall populations, Polish, German, and E. European Jews lost substantially more than W. Europe. France lost 17% of its Jewish population, while Poland lost more than 90%. Denmark saved more than 90% of its Jewish population, although the loss of one innocent individual in genocide, especially a child, is just one too many.
It is important to learn the mistakes of the past to prevent them in the future. One big current positive is Germany, Poland, W. Europe, and Israel are allies with each other and the United States, though, unfortuntely genocide is still continuing elsewhere in the world today. If children learn at a young age to treat others (everyone!) the way they want to be treated, maybe there is hope for the future.
Thanks to the following sources:
Dwork, Deborah and Van Pelt, Robert. "Auschwitz". Encyclopedia Judaica. Detroit: 1973
Cryer, Robert. "Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity" Oxford: 2002
Hilberg, Raul. "Auschwitz". The Holocaust Encyclopedia. New Haven: Yale, 2001