A History of Auschwitz (1270-1941) [Partial Patreon Preview]

Auschwitz. The term has become synonymous with the Holocaust as a whole and more broadly, is perhaps the ultimate symbol of evil. Here, over the course of four years, this sleepy Polish town was transformed from an unremarkable place to one of the greatest killing sites in history. As Ellie Wiesel once noted, it became “the largest cemetery in recorded history.” How could such a thing come to pass?This Patreon episode explores the complex historical evolution of Auschwitz-Birkenau, tracing its transformation from a pre-war Polish military barracks into a vast, multi-tiered complex of terror, forced labor, and industrial mass murder. Specifically, we look at several factors that led to its development as the largest concentration camp in the Nazi Empire, including its prewar roots in border population management, Nazi racial fantasies of (re)colonizing the East, the demand for cheap labor and the camp's local geography (which was convenient for the production of bricks and synthetic rubber). We also note how the complex’s genocidal potential evolved over time, starting not with the killing of Jews with Zyklon B, but with the shooting of exhausted Polish prisoners. So join us as we examine the structural history of the camp to better understand how the unthinkable became horrific reality.This is a partial preview of a longer, 90 minute episode on the history of the camp up to 1941.   To hear the full story, as well as to get access to other special episodes on the Young Hitler, the rise of the SS and the history of Auschwitz, 1942-45, become a Patreon supporter for as little as $2/month (patreon.com/historyoffthepage).  Support the showFor more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com!   Or you can support the  show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.