On Auschwitz "On Auschwitz" (54): Soviet prisoners of war at Auschwitz
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Jan 14, 2025 Dr. Jacek Lachendro, an expert from the Auschwitz Museum's Research Center, delves deep into the haunting history of Soviet prisoners of war at the camp. He highlights that nearly 15,000 soldiers faced brutal selection processes and inhumane conditions, resulting in staggering mortality rates. The podcast also discusses Operation Zeppelin, where these POWs were exploited for sabotage, and the post-war stigma they endured in the Soviet Union. Lachendro's insights reveal the complex and tragic fates of those caught in this dark chapter of history.
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Soviet POWs: A Significant Victim Group
- Soviet POWs were the fourth largest victim group in Auschwitz, following Jews, Poles, and Roma.
- At least 15,000 were imprisoned, with an estimated 3,000 murdered without record.
Two Distinct Groups of POWs
- Two groups of Soviet POWs existed: those selected for immediate extermination and those for labor.
- The first group, around 3,000, were primarily political commissars and communist party members.
First Mass Gassing with Zyklon B
- The first mass gassing with Zyklon B occurred in Block 11's basement, killing 600 Soviet POWs and 250 Polish prisoners.
- Polish prisoners were then forced to remove the intertwined bodies over two nights.