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"Sonderkommando Revolt" - webinar, 7 October 2024

The International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust invites you to participate in the educational session "Sonderkommando Revolt," which will take place online on the Zoom platform on 7 October 2024. The webinar will be simultaneously translated into English.

During the session, historians from the Museum's Research Center will deliver lectures on the course and consequences of the revolt of Sonderkommando prisoners, as well as other revolts and group escapes in the history of the German Nazi camp Auschwitz.

Session Program:

16.00-16.15 | Opening of the session and commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Sonderkommando revolt.

16.15-17.45 | Revolt of the Sonderkommando prisoners. Intentions, course, and consequences - Dr. Igor Bartosik

17.45-17.50 | Break

17.50-19.20 | Rebellions and group escapes of prisoners in the context of the chances of a general uprising against the SS garrison at KL Auschwitz - Dr. Piotr Setkiewicz

Participation in the session is free of charge. Please submit your applications using the online form by 4 October. After this date, you will receive an email with a link to participate in the meeting.

On October 7, 1944, the largest revolt and escape attempt in the camp's history took place, organized by the prisoners of the Sonderkommando. They set fire to and severely damaged the gas chamber and crematorium IV building and attacked the SS men near the building. The prisoners managed to cut the fence around the gas chamber and crematorium II and escape from the camp. Unfortunately, during the pursuit, all the escapees were surrounded by the SS and murdered. In total, about 450 Sonderkommando prisoners died during the revolt.

You can listen to more about the Sonderkommando revolt in one of the episodes of the "On Auschwitz" podcast series.