The Ethnic Cleansing of the Jews by Zeyd Anwar

In 1933, two Nazi theorists formulated their own responses to the “Jewish Question”, an anti-Semitic belief that stated the existence of Jews in Germany posed a problem for the German state. Johann von Leers and Achim Gercke put forward the idea of the Madagascar Plan, a proposal to forcibly relocate German Jews to the island of Madagascar. Henrich Himmler, a leading member of the Nazi Party, once said that he had hoped to see “the term ‘Jew’…completely eliminated through the massive immigration of all Jews to Africa or some other colony.”

The idea was formally proposed in June 1940 by the German Foreign Office, and by 15 August, Adolf Eichmann released a memorandum calling for the deportation of Jews over a period of four years, with Madagascar itself governed as a police state under the control of the SS. The naval blockade of Germany by Britain, however, delayed such plans. After the Nazis lost the Battle of Britain in September 1940 and commenced their policy of the Final Solution in 1942, the plan was eventually abandoned.

It is not clear exactly when Hitler decided to murder Europe’s Jews. Of the many death camps that existed all over Europe, Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest, noted for its torture, sadism and mass killings. Approximately one point three million inmates lived in Auschwitz. Around one point one million were murdered against their will.

The photos below come from the Auschwitz Album, a collection of photos that exist as the only surviving visual evidence of the mass killing in Auschwitz. The photos were taken at the end of May or the beginning of June 1944, either by Ernest Hofmann or Bernhard Walter, both SS officers whose task was to take photographs and fingerprints of the inmates (not of the Jews who were sent directly to the gas chambers). The photos in the album show the entire process except the killing itself.

The individuals who entered the death camps in Nazi Germany did so as with experiences, hobbies, interests and most importantly, humanity. Yet Nazi Germany would strip them of this very essence and relegate them to mere numbers. “They brought us into Auschwitz,” said Sara Zuchowicki, a survivor. “I could see the chimneys burning, smell the smoke. I did not think about it. They gave us tattoos: 33076. I did not have a name anymore; just a number.”

19 July, 2021

In the photos we see the men, women and children step out of the overcrowded train, traumatized and fearful after their horrendous journey. They have no clue that they have just been delivered to a death factory and that few of them will survive / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

This photograph, taken from the roof of the train, shows the main platform, completed in May 1944, shortly before the arrival of the transports from Hungary. In the foggy background: the buildings of Crematoria II and III / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

From the top of the train, the photographers give a broad view of the platform. Along the horizon, on the left and right, we can see the buildings of Crematoria II and III with their chimneys / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Newcomers from Carpatho-Ruthenia-Jews from Berehovo, Bilke, and the region-disembark from the train. None of the doors was opened without an order from the SS / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Men, women and children on the Birkenau arrival platform known as the "ramp". The Jews were removed from the deportation trains onto the ramp where they faced a selection process — most of them were sent immediately to their deaths, while others were sent to slave labour / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The arriving Jews stand in front of the railroad cars, awaiting the Germans' orders. Some of them notice the photographer and look curiously into the camera / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Since the railroad car has no convenient steps, the old Jews have to be assisted in disembarking. The words written on the side of the train are "Deutsche Reichsbahn" ("German State Railway") / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Women and children on the Birkenau arrival platform known as the "ramp". The Jews were removed from the deportation trains onto the ramp where they faced a selection process — most of them were sent immediately to their deaths, while others were sent to slave labour / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Women and children on the Birkenau arrival platform known as the "ramp". The Jews were removed from the deportation trains onto the ramp where they faced a selection process — most of them were sent immediately to their deaths, while others were sent to slave labor / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Jews arriving at the camp before undergoing the selection process. Mass scenes like this were an almost daily occurrence in the summer of 1944, when the murder of the Jews of Hungary was at its height / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The Jews who just arrived are taking care of their property as they are under the assumption they will be needing it. They have no idea that most of them will be murdered, and their property appropriated by the Nazis / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The selection process carried out by SS doctors and wardens took place twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, as train after train unloaded its human cargo. Most Jews were sent immediately to their death / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Pictured here are Jews who just arrived at the camp, but have not yet undergone the selection process. On the left side, towards the bottom, it is possible to see some of the belongings that the Jews brought with them. The belongings remained on the platform until after the Jews had undergone selection / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Some of the Jews are looking at the inside of a train car, where the photographer is standing. Crematorium building II can be seen at the top right. Top left: the "Lagerstrasse" (the so called main camp street) / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The line of Jewish men on the left is advancing toward a SS man. In the background, the selection of the Jewish women is taking place. The two Jewish women in front have, as it seems, been selected for slave labour / / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Jews undergoing the selection process on the Birkenau arrival platform known as the "ramp". A number of veteran inmates can be seen assisting the new arrivals. Veteran inmates were forced by the SS to stand on the "ramp" to ensure an "orderly" selection process / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

A minority of Jews was selected for forced labor. Their personal belongings will be confiscated, their hair will be shaved and a registration number was tattooed on their left arm / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

A minority of Jews was selected for forced labor. From left to right: Suri Aron of the Tacovo ghetto, Chedvah Zelig (survived the Holocaust), Ester Kanez (survived the Holocaust), Cilly Stahl (survived the Holocaust) / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The Jewish women, now prisoners, have been permitted to carry small packages. First row, from left to right: Lili ("Bobo") Yakobovics of Tacovo (survived the Holocaust), Rozi Bittman, Rozi Grever (survived the Holocaust). Second row: Ester Klein, Sima Müller, Mariska Müller / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Jewish women cross through a camp section in Birkenau on their way to the "Sauna" / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center (shower). The men watching from behind near the electrified barbed wire are prisoners in Birkenau.

Women prisoners - their personal belongings were confiscated, their hair was shaved and a registration number was tattooed on their left arm / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Female prisoners are escorted to the barracks by the Blockälteste at the left. The building on the right is the kitchen of the women's camp / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The work of sorting the possessions that the Jews brought with them to Auschwitz was done by Jewish prisoners who were forced to collect the packages and sort the items that would then be sent to the Reich. By the time the sorting was completed, most of the previous owners were already dead / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

The undressing rooms of the gas chambers were not sufficient for the masses of Hungarian Jews who arrived daily in the summer of 1944. They therefore had to wait until the undressing rooms were ready to absorb them. The common waiting place was the grove closest to the crematorium / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

These were the last relatively peaceful moments together, before being driven into the gas chambers and murdered. In the background: the barracks of "Kanada" / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Jews who were classified as "not fit for work" waiting in a grove outside Crematorium IV before they were to be gassed. At this point, the Jews were exhausted and in a state of shock from the horrors of the journey and the selection process that they had just endured. The vast majority had no idea what fate awaited them / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

No memory of the men, women, and children that were deemed “valueless” upon their arrival remains in camp records. This album is the sole witness to their fate / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Jewish women and children forced to walk towards the gas chambers / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center / Copyright © 2021 Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Zeyd Anwar is the founder of New Politic

@zeydanwar

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