Auschwitz

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Auschwitz-Birkenau is the site of the largest mass murder in human history, yet its full story remains largely unknown. This work reveals new insights from over 100 original interviews with Auschwitz survivors and Nazi perpetrators, offering unprecedented access to their testimonies. These accounts provide a detailed portrait of the camp's inner workings, covering everything from mass murder techniques to the complex relationships between guards and prisoners, including the on-camp brothel where boundaries blurred. The author examines the strategic decisions that designated Auschwitz as the primary site for the Nazis' "Final Solution" to exterminate Europe's Jews. He argues that the atrocities committed were driven not only by ideology but also as a practical response to the deteriorating situation on the Eastern Front for Germany. This "immoral pragmatism" shaped many decisions at Auschwitz, creating a narrative that serves as a morality tale. It illustrates how evil can unfold through subtle, incremental steps, culminating in the horrific industrial-scale slaughter that occurred in the gas chambers. Insights from these interviews illuminate the chilling reality of history's most infamous death camp, providing a companion volume to the PBS documentary.