Holocaust Living Conditions Essay

Over six million Jews died in the Holocaust. Concentration camps and death camps were the main cause of extermination during this time. A vast number of people were dehumanized and treated poorly in camps. Auschwitz was one of the most horrific concentration camps because of the living conditions, Mass exterminations, and uprisings. The living conditions of the prisoners in the camp were treacherous, and prisoners went several days without adequate clothing and food. For example “prisoners did not receive protective clothing and they were constantly subjected to beatings and abuse from the mines civilian staff as well as prisoner foremen” (“Auschwitz/Furstengrube” par.1). When working prisoners were in extreme conditions and did not receive
Many died due to the harsh conditions they were forced to work in. Most of the time Jews were forced to build their own blocks. Furthermore, “Construction began on April of 1940 in an abandoned polish army barracks in the suburb” (“Auschwitz” par 4). Many of the barracks had no bathrooms or places to shower, most slept multiple prisoners to a bunk. Auschwitz had the worst living conditions of all the camps. Mass exterminations were very popular in Auschwitz after the final solution was issued. Ultimately “ At Auschwitz 1 ,in September, the SS first tested Zyklon B as an instrument of mass murder; the success of these experiments led to the adoption of Zyklon B for all gas chambers at the Auschwitz complex” (“Auschwitz” par 5). The adoption of Zyklon B turned Auschwitz into a place where chemical warfare took control. Mass genocides took place due to the use of Zyklon B. Thus, “ Four large crematoriums buildings were constructed between March and June 1943. New arrivals underwent selection” (“Auschwitz” Pg. 2-3). If prisoners were chosen as unfit for labor, they were sent