Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution

Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution presents the harrowing story of the largest mass murder site in world history. This six-episode series chronicles the evolution of Auschwitz from its early operations in 1940 to the prosecution of the Nazis involved in running the camp. It features interviews with former inmates and guards, authentic reenactments of key events, and computer-generated reconstructions of long-demolished buildings to provide a detailed account of the atrocities committed at Auschwitz.

The series reveals how Auschwitz, initially built for a different purpose, became a central part of the Nazis’ “Final Solution” – the extermination of the Jews. It scrutinizes the mentality of the perpetrators and examines how the site’s commanders struggled to organize mass murder on an unimaginable scale. It also explores the wider context of the Nazi policy of mass extermination, including the activities of special killing squads and the infamous Wannsee Conference.

Using rarely seen contemporary color and monochrome film from archives, the series presents a historically accurate portrayal of events. Every word spoken in the reenactments is based on documented historical records, ensuring authenticity and accuracy. The computer-generated reconstructions utilize architectural plans that only became available in the 1990s after the opening of Soviet Union archives.

The documentary covers various aspects of Auschwitz’s history, including its surprising beginnings, the implementation of orders and initiatives, the establishment of death factories, corruption within the camp system, the frenzied killing that took place, and finally, the liberation of the camp and its aftermath. Through this comprehensive exploration, the series aims to provide a deeper understanding of one of the darkest chapters in human history.