SHOOTINGS

The executions in Auschwitz I took place in a court between block 10 and 11 which was divided from the rest of the camp by two walls. At the back was a black wall. In front of that wall was scattered sand to suck up the blood of the victims who had to be naked and barefooted.

The bleeing bodies were taken to the crematorium on a lorry. Puddles of blood remained on the camp road after the hearse had gone through.

Shootings did not only take place at the black wall. If a prisoner was not working fast enough, if an SS-guard interpreted a prisoner's glance as rebellious or if an SS-man or officer was bored, prisoners could be shot. If the daily production target was not reached, inmates were shot. Officially, they were all shot "on the run".