October 7, 1944

Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camp, Oswiecim, Poland: Jewish Sonderkommados (camp inmates placed under duty for the burning of the corpses of the inmates) from Poland, Hungary, and Greece attack SS guards with hammers, stones, picks, crowbars, axes and other scratchbuilt weapons. Using explosives smuggled into the camp from a nearby munitions factory, the Sonderkommandos blow up one of the four crematiora in the camp. Russian POWs, having joined the revolt, threw an SS man alive into a furnace. SS soldiers fought back with machine guns, grenades and rifles, killing 250 of the revolters and ending the uprising. An additional 12 Jews who escaped the camp were later found and excecuted by the SS.

That same day, Soviet soldiers invaded occupied Hungary. The next January Auschwitz was liberated by the Red Army. Only 7,000 inmates of hundreds of thousands were found alive, including the father of Anne Frank, Otto. The Russians also uncover more than 7 TONS of human hair, shaved from the heads of inmates who were to be gassed.

The liberation hadn't come in time for the 1.5 Million people who died at Auschwitz. May their souls rest in peace.

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"Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts." - Cicero

From what I've read, Otto Frank only survived out of pure luck. He fell sick and was placed in the camp hospital (I'm amazed that Auschwitz HAD a hospital) and was left behind when the Russians came.

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WWII-era pen-advertisement
P-51 Mustang fighter-plane.
Parker '51' fountain pen.

Based on actual events, THE GREY ZONE is the story of the Auschwitz's twelfth Sonderkommando - one of the thirteen consecutive 'Special Squads' of Jewish prisoners placed by the Nazis in the excruciating moral dilemma of helping to exterminate fellow Jews in exchange for a few more months of life.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I'm the "Confederate with a pipe"!! LOL

Well, at least the movie " The Grey zone" was not very good at all. It actually looked pretty funny to see SS men etc hitting the jews gently with their sticks etc. " I´m so sorry but I should be hitting you in the back with my stick. is it ok with you?"..

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This is a sick fact, but the camp 'hospital' was actually a scientific 'laboratory' for Nazi scientists. They used ill humans as guinea pigs there, especially identical twins. I'm not gonna post some of the stuff they did, unless someone wants to know...just sick things.

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"Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts." - Cicero

I could be wrong here but didn't they kill like 80 nazis during the revolt?

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This is a pair of Dutch resistance crystal radios, built into a small metal can, and a matchbox. The image is from a postcard bought at a Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam. The matchbox is marked in Swedish, but Swedish matches were sold in Holland for many years..
Scott

I was curious what the Germans did with 7 tons of hair ? The only thing I can think of is filling for overcoats. Do any of you know ?

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

I seem to reacll it being used for insulation. Something about it being used in U-boats.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I'm the "Confederate with a pipe"!! LOL

I believe that pillows were made from a large amount......

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The war against Russia will be such that it cannot be conducted in a knightly fashion. This struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful and unrelenting harshness. -Adolf Hitler