At the liberation of Avitz, there were about 7,000 prisoners on site.

From 1942 onward, Avitz became a mass extermination center for European Jews.

After selections, most of the newly arrived were murdered in gas chambers, including the sick, the elderly, pregnant women, and children.

These individuals were not registered in the camp system.

The Jews deported to Ashvitz came from various countries.

Here we have a graph to help visualize Hungary.

438,000 Poland, 300,000 France, 69,000 the Netherlands, 60,000 Greece, 55,000 other countries totaling 1.

1 million.

The gas chamber at Avitz continued to operate until October 1944, killing tens of thousands of people every day.

But the Nazis knew they did not have much time.

The Soviet Red Army was quickly approaching Poland, having already driven the Germans into retreat the previous year.

SS guards, anticipating that Hitler would lose the war, did not want any evidence left of what had happened in the concentration camp.

The gas chambers and crerematoria were demolished, as well as many of the barracks and the offices of high-ranking officers.

All records of arrivals, executions, and torture were destroyed, but hundreds of thousands of prisoners were still alive.

Some Germans wanted to kill them, but others still saw them as labor force or even as hostages to negotiate with the Soviets or the Allies.

That’s how the decision was made to transfer the captives to the interior of the Reich, placing them in other concentration camps.

Anyone who couldn’t keep up or couldn’t go on was shot and the body was thrown on the side of the road.

Some of us were very sick and didn’t know if we would survive.

The Nazis had no vehicles to move so many people, so the transportation was done on foot.

These death marches, as they became known, took place in winter with temperatures below 0° C.

Tens of thousands of weakened prisoners who hadn’t eaten properly for years and didn’t have adequate clothing died on the way due to the relentless cold.

Those who fell too far behind were executed by the Nazis.

It is believed that of the approximately 60,000 who were there at the start of the march, about 15,000 succumbed to the weather or to gunfire.

On January 27th, 1945, Soviet soldiers liberated around 7,000 prisoners who were still in the camp.

In addition to Jews, Poles, Roma, and Soviets, thousands of prisoners of other nationalities such as Cexs, Bellarusians, French, Germans, Russians, and Ukrainians were sent to Achvitz representing almost every country in Europe.

Thank you very much for your audience.

May God bless you all.

A big hug and see you soon.

 

« Prev