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Media Essay

Auschwitz - Photograph

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Auschwitz

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Main entrance to the Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center. [LCID: 90326] — Main entrance to the Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center. This photograph was taken some time after the liberation of the camp in January 1945. Poland, date uncertain.
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A group of three men with light skin tone carry an emaciated child. The child has a shaved head, light skin tone and is wearing next to nothing. The men are all wearing heavy outerwear. The man on the right wears a white armband with a red cross. — Soon after liberation, an emaciated child survivor is carried out of camp barracks by Soviet first-aid workers. Auschwitz, Poland, after January 27, 1945.

This photograph is a still image from Soviet film of the liberation of Auschwitz.
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Women survivors huddled in a prisoner barracks shortly after Soviet forces liberated the Auschwitz camp. [LCID: 31450b] — Women survivors huddled in a prisoner barracks shortly after Soviet forces liberated the Auschwitz camp. Auschwitz, Poland, 1945.
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Soon after liberation, surviving children of the Auschwitz camp walk out of the children's barracks. [LCID: 70262] — Soon after liberation, surviving children of the Auschwitz camp walk out of the children's barracks. Poland, after January 27, 1945.
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Suitcases that belonged to people deported to the Auschwitz camp. [LCID: 12022a] — Suitcases that belonged to people deported to the Auschwitz camp. This photograph was taken after Soviet forces liberated the camp. Auschwitz, Poland, after January 1945.
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Dozens of oblong bags stacked against each other. Each bag has writing on the side, describing contents and weight. Small tufts of hair are poking up between the seams of the bags. — Hair of women prisoners, prepared for shipment to Germany, found at the liberation of Auschwitz. Poland, 1945.
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Rail cars, discovered by Soviet forces, containing bundles to be shipped to Germany. [LCID: 85745] — Rail cars discovered by Soviet forces and containing possessions taken from deportees. This abandoned train was on the way to Germany loaded with personal effects (in this case, pillows) taken from Auschwitz victims. Auschwitz, Poland, after January 27, 1945.
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A uniformed physician and his assistant examine severely emaciated individuals sitting on a table. The main subject has no hair and skeletal features. — Soon after liberation, a Soviet physician examines Auschwitz camp survivors. Poland, February 18, 1945.

This photograph is a still image from Soviet film of the liberation of Auschwitz.
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View of a section of the barbed-wire fence and barracks at Auschwitz at the time of the liberation of the camp. [LCID: 11058] — View of a section of the barbed-wire fence and barracks at Auschwitz at the time of the liberation of the camp. Auschwitz, Poland, January 1945.

On January 27, 1945, the Soviet army entered Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Monowitz and liberated more than six thousand prisoners, most of whom were ill and dying.
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View of Auschwitz-Birkenau under a blanket of snow immediately after the liberation. [LCID: 58406] — View of Auschwitz-Birkenau under a blanket of snow immediately after the liberation. Auschwitz, Poland, January 1945.
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Aerial photograph of the Auschwitz III (Monowitz) camp, which was adjacent to the I. [LCID: 91364] — Aerial photograph of the Auschwitz III (Monowitz) camp, which was adjacent to the I.G. Farben plant. The photograph was taken following US bombing missions. Poland, January 14, 1945.
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Aerial photograph showing a large encampment with rows of buildings in the top left, roads, and a smaller group of buildings in the top right. — Aerial photograph of Auschwitz II (Birkenau). Poland, December 21, 1944.

This image is one of a series of aerial photographs taken by Allied reconnaissance units under the command of the 15th US Army Air Force during missions dating between April 4, 1944, and January 14, 1945.
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A grainy black and white aerial photo of several rows of long barracks in the snow. — Barracks in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. This photograph was taken after the liberation of the camp. Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland, after January 29, 1945.
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The inside of a large factory with tables in rows. Rows of prisoners sit on one side of the tables and work on materials in front of them. — Prisoners at forced labor in the Siemens factory. Auschwitz camp, Poland, 1940–44.
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A road with buildings on either side leading to a brick wall. There is a large black square on the wall. — The Black Wall, between Block 10 (left) and Block 11 (right) in the Auschwitz concentration camp, where executions of inmates took place. Poland, date unknown.
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Identification pictures of a female inmate of the Auschwitz camp. [LCID: 90354] — Identification pictures of a female inmate of the Auschwitz camp. Poland, between 1942 and 1945.
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Identification pictures of a Jewish inmate of the Auschwitz camp. [LCID: 90350] — Identification pictures of a Jewish inmate of the Auschwitz camp. Poland, between 1940 and 1945.
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Several people exit a cattle train car. Most are wearing heavy coats, hats, and other outerwear. A few people can be seen wearing Star of David patches. — A transport of Jews from Hungary arrives at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Poland, May 1944.
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A large group of people in two groups stand near empty train tracks. Guards survey the groups. The Auschwitz II-Birkenau gatehouse can be seen in the background. — A transport of Hungarian Jews lines up on the ramp for selection at the Auschwitz-Birkenau killing center in German-occupied Poland. May 1944.

In mid-May 1944, the Hungarian authorities, in coordination with the German Security Police, began to systematically deport the Hungarian Jews. SS Colonel Adolf Eichmann was chief of the team of "deportation experts" that worked with the Hungarian authorities. The Hungarian police carried out the roundups and forced the Jews onto the deportation trains.

In less than two months, nearly 440,000 Jews were deported from Hungary in more than 145 trains.
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A crowded line of women and children. Most are wearing patches of the Star of David pinned to their heavy coats. — Jewish women and children from Subcarpathian Rus who have been selected for death at Auschwitz-Birkenau, walk toward the gas chambers. May 1944.
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Bombing raid over part of the Auschwitz camp. Auschwitz, Poland, August 1944. [LCID: 64215] — Bombing raid over the I.G. Farben Buna plant. Poland, August 1944.
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Candles mark the railway tracks leading to the Auschwitz camp during the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation ... [LCID: lc501] — Candles mark the railway tracks leading to the Auschwitz camp during the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the camp. Poland, January 27, 2005.
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