Every year, approximately 1 million people visit Auschwitz, predominantly from Poland, the USA and the UK. What is the meaning of Auschwitz today? How should a site of genocide be treated?
Auschwitz I was one of six death camps, all of which were on Polish territory, located so that Jewish populations from across Europe could be transported to them easily. Near the town of Oświȩcim, Auschwitz I was constructed in May 1940 in an abandoned Polish artillery barracks. Like the other death camps, Auschwitz I had a gas chamber and crematorium. Originally, those destined for Auschwitz were political prisoners, Roma and Jews. In total, it is estimated that 1.2 million prisoners died at Auschwitz.
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