Auschwitz

Auschwitz refers to a complex of concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany during World War II, located in occupied Poland. The most notorious of these was Auschwitz I, the original camp, which served as a administrative center, and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, which was primarily an extermination camp where mass killings occurred. The camp was established in 1940 and became one of the most infamous symbols of the Holocaust, where approximately 1.1 million people, the vast majority of whom were Jews, were murdered. Auschwitz also served as a forced labor camp for prisoners, who were subjected to brutal treatment, harsh conditions, and exploitation. The site has since become a memorial and museum, preserving the memory of the victims and educating future generations about the atrocities of the Holocaust. It stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of hatred, intolerance, and discrimination.