Auschwitz: The Largest Killing Center — Reading Comprehension

Auschwitz was the largest and most notorious concentration camp and killing center operated by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust in World War II. Located near the town of Oświęcim in German-occupied Poland, Auschwitz became the site of the mass murder of over 1.1 million people between 1940 and 1945. The majority of these victims were Jews, but Poles, Roma (Gypsies), Soviet prisoners of war, and others were also killed. Auschwitz is a powerful symbol of the Holocaust, the genocide in which six million Jews and millions of others were murdered by the Nazi regime.

The camp complex consisted of three main camps: Auschwitz I (the original camp), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the extermination camp), and Auschwitz III-Monowitz (a labor camp). Auschwitz II-Birkenau, built in 1941, was designed specifically for systematic extermination. Victims were transported to Auschwitz from all over German-occupied Europe, often in crowded cattle cars. Upon arrival, Nazi doctors performed selections: some people were chosen for forced labor, while most were sent directly to gas chambers. German records and survivor testimonies, such as those of Primo Levi and Elie Wiesel, provide evidence of the horrifying conditions. Prisoners faced starvation, disease, forced labor, and brutal punishments. Few survived more than a few months.

Primary sources, including photographs and the testimony of survivors, document the daily life and suffering at Auschwitz. For example, the diary of Anne Frank mentions the constant fear of transportation to Auschwitz. Archaeological excavations have uncovered personal belongings, like shoes and suitcases, left behind by victims. These items serve as haunting evidence of the camp's human cost. Social hierarchy at Auschwitz was enforced by the Nazis: Jewish prisoners, Romani people, and Soviet POWs were treated with particular cruelty. "Kapös," prisoners chosen to supervise others, sometimes gained slightly better conditions by following Nazi orders, but most inmates endured constant terror and dehumanization.

The liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops on January 27, 1945, revealed the full scale of the atrocities committed there. Soldiers found only about 7,000 survivors, most of whom were extremely ill. Evidence collected at the site, such as piles of hair and belongings, shocked the world. The legacy of Auschwitz has shaped international human rights policies and education about genocide. Today, the site is a memorial and museum, visited by millions who wish to remember the victims and learn from the past.

Studying Auschwitz helps us understand the dangers of unchecked power, prejudice, and propaganda. It reminds us of the need to defend human rights and resist hatred in all forms. The Holocaust remains a central subject in world history because of its scale, brutality, and lasting impact on humanity.

Interesting Fact: After the war, some former Nazi officials were tried for their crimes at the Nuremberg Trials, and Auschwitz survivors gave powerful testimony against them.

Where was Auschwitz located?

Who were the main victims at Auschwitz?

When was Auschwitz liberated?

Why was Auschwitz II-Birkenau built?

What evidence shows Auschwitz's history?

What did the liberation reveal?

Auschwitz was a concentration camp. True or false?

What is genocide?