ACCOMODATION AND SANITARY CONDITIONS

THE ACCOMODATION

TDhe number of inmates in one block corresponded to the overall number of prisoners in the camp.

The prisoners of Auschwitz I, the main camp were accomodated in blocks, former military barracks. Not all of those originally 28 barracks were used for prisoners.

In Auschwitz II - Birkenau existed different forms of blocks - stone and wooden blocks (former horse stable with narrow dormers in the roof, which couldn't be opened except two.)

Within the block, there were two small rooms (one for the block senior, one used as stock-room for bread and 60 partition walls). Inbetween were bunk-beds, three upon the the other, with altogether 180 sleeping berths.

When the camp was overcrowded, sometimes 45 instead of 15 prisoners slept on one plan-bed. In the stone barracks, the sleeping berths were covered with a thin layer of straw. In the wooden barracks, there were straw mattresses filled with wood-wool, wrapped in paper. In addition, blankets were distributed.

THE SANITARY CONDITIONS

There were no toilets nor wash-rooms in any block. The humidity, the leaking roofs and the dirty straw made the conditions even worse.

The inmates were only seldom guided to sanitary rooms. They already had to undress in their blocks and were driven naked - in any weather - to the bathrooms. They could only relieve themselves in primitive, uncovered latrines. For ten thousands of prisoners, only a few sanitary installations were available.

The accomodation and sanitary conditions in Auschwitz III (Monowitz) and in many subcamps were very similar.