Geographic Description
AUSCHWITZ: (Polish: Oswiecim)
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Located approximately 60km (37mi) west of Kraków, in Eastern Upper Silesia, which was annexed to Nazi Germany following the defeat of Poland, in September, 1939
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Site of Nazi death camp
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The first camp was built shortly after Poland's defeat, in a suburb of Oswiecim (Zasole), and held about 10,000 prisoners
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The second site, known as Auschwitz II, or Birkenau, was built 3km from the original camp, in March of 1941
Source: The Nizkor Project