Children in Auschwitz

By: Cindy Fu
Survivor testimonies from children, especially young children, are rare. Most were killed in Auschwitz or in the Death Matches that liquidated the camps. Yet their experiences and perspectives are crucial to understand the extent of the SS’s crimes at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
 
It is clear that “children” did not exist in the camp, they were simply prisoners. Beyond the abusive torments from functionaries and the SS, children suffered from a lack of basic needs and social connections – fundamental elements needed for a child to develop and grow physically, psychologically, and emotionally.
 
Without a voice and intentionally erased by the SS, this project hopes to present children’s experience in a holistic way. While some important differences are highlighted between certain groups, it focuses on the collective treatment of child prisoners and its consequences.
 
Canva slides with a mixed of words and photos were chosen to present the project as this is a topic with a large scope and information. The images either taken at Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum or from sources related to the camp help illustrate the lived experiences of children. The flexibility of the slides allows information to be presented in various ways with an ability to highlight key data, such as an estimate of the number of child deportations.