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Report by Alfred Wetzler and Rudolf Vrba, two Escapees from Auschwitz (Late April 1944)

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In the middle of March 1944 a smaller group of Benzburg Jews, who had been found in hiding, arrived. We learned from them that many Polish Jews had escaped to Slovakia and from there to Hungary, and that these had been helped by Jews still living in Slovakia.

After the extermination of the Teresin Jews, no reinforcements arrived until 15 March. As a consequence, the number at the camp was substantially reduced, for which reason all men arriving in later transports, mostly Dutch Jews, were assigned to the camp. We had just learned of the arrival of large Greek Jewish transports when we left the camp on 7 April 1944.

15. Organization and Population of the Birkenau Camp, April 1944.

The Birkenau camp consists of three sections (see plan no. 3) At the present time, only sections I and II are surrounded by the inner guard belt, as section III is still in the process of building and is not inhabited.

When we left Birkenau at the beginning of April 1944, the number of inmates of the camp was as follows:

Place

Slovak Jews

Other Jews

Gentiles

Remarks

I Section

c. 300

c. 7000

c. 6000

In addition to 300 Slovak girls, 100 girls are employed in the staff building.

Women's reception centers Ia and Ib

II Section

a. Quarantine camp

2

c. 200

c. 800

Dr. Endre Mueller from Podolinec, one of the two Slovak Jews, is block-inspector.

b.Camp of the [sic]

c. 3500

With six months quarantine.

c. Not occupied at present

d. Staff camp

c. 58

c. 4000

c. 6000

e. Gypsy camp

c. 4500

Remnant of 16,000 Gypsies. They are not performing labor and are dying out quickly.

f. Hospital

6

c. 1000

c. 500

The six Slovak Jews are engaged in hospital administration.*

g. [Shown on plan, but not accounted for.]



* Number

Name

Place of Origin

Duties

36,832

Walter Spitzer

Nemsova

Block inspector

29,867

Josef Neumann

Snina

"Capo" of corpses

44,989

Josef Zelmanovics

Snina

Personnel

32,407

Lajos Eisenstaedter

Korompa

Tattooer

30,049

Lajos Solmann

Kezmarok

Clerk

Chaim Katz

Snina

Personnel

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