Auschwitz Revolt Was Mostly Successful

The Sonderkommando revolt in Auschwitz occurred on October 7, 1944, when a large group of Sonderkommando members in the crematoria area of Birkenau camp (aka Auschwitz II) attacked the Nazi guards of the camp.

The revolt had three objectives: destroy Crematorium IV (it happened); kill a number of German guards (three were killed) – and organize an escape from the killing center (27 escapees survived the war). Therefore, the revolt was mostly successful (albeit not as successful as was initially planned – 452 members of the Sonderkommando died in the revolt).

The gas chamber killings, body burning, and handling of the victims’ belongings required a significant workforce. For this purpose, the Germans recruited about 1,000 Jews, called the Sonderkommando.

These workers received better living and food conditions; however, they constantly faced death, as the SS routinely killed group members every few months and brought in new workers. Figuring they had nothing to lose, the Jews started planning the revolt.

Uprising was triggered by the decision of the SS to execute 300 Sonderkommando members (they have already executed the same number). Revolt was set to commence on October 7, 1944, at 16:00.

The plan was to overpower the German soldiers during evening roll call, blow up the four crematoria (using explosives smuggled from nearby munitions factory), cut the fence (it was electrified only at night), and escape.

As usual, this plan went right out of the window almost immediately. On the day of the revolt, at noon, SS guards unexpectedly arrived at Crematoria IV and V and began to isolate a group of prisoners for execution.

The prisoners began to resist using knives, axes and the few firearms they had. The SS retreated and opened fire on the prisoners while simultaneously calling for reinforcements from the camp. Reinforcements arrived and began shooting indiscriminately at the prisoners hiding in the crematoria, killing many of them.

The inmates in Crematorium II exited the building, and using handmade knives, axes and grenades assembled with the obtained explosives, managed to make their way to the camp’s wire fence, cut it, and escape. It is estimated that about 80 prisoners managed to flee.

After the revolt, the crematoria were not returned to operation, and they were blown up before the SS left the camp.