The sheer scale of Auschwitz-II, Birkenau, is not easily imagined. Indeed, no amount of documentary viewing, book reading or Internet page browsing can prepare anybody for the vastness of the site. Simply put, it is horrendously vast. Yet the Nazis, with the war raging on several fronts, were planning to expand the site, and indeed did, at least in part. This thread shall address the expansion areas that were not created, as well as the sectors that were.
An overview of the Birkenau complex shows us the known sectors of camps BIa and BIb, BIIa, BIIb, BIIc, BIId, BIIe and BIIf. The area left of the arrival area, as we look from the image taken inside the main guard tower shown below, is BI. This sector was designed to hold approximately 20,000 prisoners. The right hand sector, BII, was designed to hold 60,000 inmates. Plans were created to expand the camp on both sides of these vast areas, yet only BIII, known as "Mexico", was ever started. Sector BIV was due to be located left of BI, and also expected to hold at least 60,000 prisoners. The area BIII, itself far from finished by war's end, was due to become the holding location for another 60,000 prisoners.
Sector BIII became known to the prisoners as "Mexico", due to the colourful blankets that adorned the new arrivals to the sector. Aside from BI, the remaining sectors were to be divided into six separated camps, each with its own SS Blockführerstube (guard room). Of the planned 180 buildings envisioned to complete sector BIII, just over 50 were completed and utilised. Their existence is almost unnoticeable today, save for a few stone remains far from where the guides take their parties of visitors. The images below show two areas of the sector, as it looks today. Had the sector been completed, it would have been the largest part of the camp, outnumbering BII's over 160 buildings by over 10%.
Further Krematoria were also planned, likely to be of similar scale to Krematoria II and III, the largest killing facilities present at the extermination camp.
The vast burning pits, Krematoria complex, preliminary gas chambers, Effektenlager(30 buildings comprising a goods sorting complex known as Kanada), Sauna (bathhouse) arrivals building, sewage treatment works and various other locales where all located outside of the above named camp sectors, as was the Kommandantur building, SS barracks and SS guard dogs area.
Re: KZ-Auschwitz-II, Birkenau - The Planned Expansion
This is most excellent Carl,, great job...One question....in your last photo the houses in the background,,were they already there during that time or were they built after the war...My reason for the question is that all of the KL photos I have seen ,,the property has been protected over the decades and I assume those house were there during that time. If that is true...and with those houses being that close ,,I wonder if some of the camp administration lived there or occupied those houses as offices. Regards Larry
It is not the size of a Collection in History that matters......Its the size of your Passion for it!! - Larry C
One never knows what tree roots push to the surface of what laid buried before the tree was planted - Larry C
“The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” - Winston Churchill
Re: KZ-Auschwitz-II, Birkenau - The Planned Expansion
Thank you Larry, I appreciate your kind words.
Regarding the houses and their history, it is my understanding that the immediate surrounding area was mostly vacant. The aerial photograph shown below, from August 1944, shows the expanse of open ground immediately beyond the camp's boundaries at the time. The only close buildings visible, are the two separate buildings of the Kartofellager (potato stores), which can be seen towards the foot of the image. The Auschwitz complex SS barracks and accommodation buildings were indeed quite widespread. Most know of the Höss villa, that is located on the edge of Auschwitz-I, the Stammlager (main camp), and the large barracks block nearby, but numerous buildings in the area were known to have been used to accommodate some of the administartion staff too. At Auschwitz-II, Birkenau, a large section, immediately below the arrow indicating camp BIII "Mexiko", on this circa August 1944 attachment, shows the SS-Kaserne and Kommandantur complex. Similar in size to the camp BI, it was capable of housing most of the guard staff on duty.
Re: KZ-Auschwitz-II, Birkenau - The Planned Expansion
Interesting to see a crucifix on top of the building. So it seems that it may presently be occupied,, and Hoss` villa also by seeing the TV dish on the outside of the house.
It is not the size of a Collection in History that matters......Its the size of your Passion for it!! - Larry C
One never knows what tree roots push to the surface of what laid buried before the tree was planted - Larry C
“The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” - Winston Churchill
Re: KZ-Auschwitz-II, Birkenau - The Planned Expansion
Yes Larry, the Höss villa was returned to the pre-war owners after the liberation. Whether or not it remains in the family I am unsure. The former Kommandantur building is now a church. Much of the complex behind the main office building has long since gone.
Re: KZ-Auschwitz-II, Birkenau - The Planned Expansion
by TIGER88
The former Kommandantur building is now a church. Much of the complex behind the main office building has long since gone.
Regards,
Carl
Hi Carl now that is what I call an ironic Twist of fate for the better. I was always under the impression that all structures involved in detention and the Final Solution were always protected by the country it resided in. Although Heydrichs house will eventually become a museum,,I am curious to one day that the owner of the Hoss house,, may open his home up for a tour. Regards Larry
It is not the size of a Collection in History that matters......Its the size of your Passion for it!! - Larry C
One never knows what tree roots push to the surface of what laid buried before the tree was planted - Larry C
“The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” - Winston Churchill
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