By: Lourdes Brandariz

Auschwitz-Birkeneau  Auschwitz was a death and concentration camp built near Krakow, Poland, in May, 1940, during World War II. Auschwitz was the most extensive and largest camp of nearly 2,000 camps. Over the main gate, there were three words written: “Arbeit macht frei”, which means that work leads to freedom. In June, 1940, the first prisoners walked into the camp. The Nazis killed the prisoners in terrific ways, from poisonous gas like Zyklon-B to doing terrible experiments. During 1941, the construction of Auschwitz II, also known as Birkeneau, was ordered and finished. Later, in 1942, women were moved to the women’s section. Around 1 million prisoners, most of them Jews, were killed in Auschwitz. The Nazis evacuated the camp nine days before the Soviets arrived. But January 27, 1945 was too late for some people. Bibliography: “Auschwitz.” Learning about the Holocaust- A Student’s Guide Print Main entrance where prisoners came in on the trains.

Nazi Party  The Nazi Party, or National Socialist German Workers’ Party, is the translation of Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or NSDAP. It was founded after PoliticalWorkers’ Circle was declared illegal, in January, The first leaders were Anton Drexler, a locksmith, and Karl Harrer, a reporter. Most of the time they were blaming and hating the Jews. In September 12, 1919, Hitler joined, and two years later became the leader of the party. The party remained working until September 20, 1945, shortly after the Allies declared it illegal during the end of World War II. Bibliography: “Nazi Party.” Learning about the Holocaust- A Student’s Guide Print. Nazi reunion. Schwastika on the flags.

Star of David  The Star of David is a symbol of Jewish. It is a six-pointed star, usually yellow, although during the Holocaust, some Jews had to wear a blue star in an armband. Every Jew had to wear a star, and every shop owners had to put up the Star of David and the word “Jew” on their front windows. If Jews did not wear the Star of David, they might have to pay or they would be shot or taken to a camp. Sometimes, people that wore the Star were taken to concentration camps. Bibliography: Deem, James M. Kristallnacht The Nazi Terror That Began the Holocaust. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc, Print Smelser, Ronald M. Badge Jewish. Learning about the Holocaust Print A yellow six-pointed star.

Zyklon-B  Zyklon B are green pellets that release a lethal gas when it is exposed to air. It was first used in Auschwitz as a pesticide, but in September of 1941, an experiment was conducted Karl Fritsch. He ordered to fill a totally closed room with Russian prisoners, dropped some pellets into the room, and see how long it took them to die. Satisfied with the experiment, all camps began using it. Prisoners were selected and marked. At the beginning, the prisoners would have to walk naked to the gas chambers. Later, they built changing rooms. Some prisoners were told to breathe deeper, that it was good for their lungs, and they died faster. Bibliography: Lace, William W. The Holocaust Library: The Death Camps. San Diego: Lucent Books, Print Zyklon-B Used during the Holocaust.