Geographic Description

AUSCHWITZ: (Polish: Oswiecim)

• Located approximately 60km (37mi) west of Krakow, in Eastern Upper Silesia, which was annexed to Nazi Germany following the defeat of Poland, in September, 1939

• Site of Nazi death camp

• The first camp was built shortly after Poland's defeat, in a suburb of Oswiecim (Zasole), and held about 10,000 prisoners

• The second site, known as Auschwitz II, or Birkenau, was built 3km from the original camp, in March of 1941

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