The prisoners were probably terrified because the SS attempted to liquidate Auschwitz ahead of the Soviet advance and shot several thousand prisoners before marching 80,000 away on foot deeper into Germany.
In their haste and panic they forgot to clear the medical wing, and a few sections of main camp housing, leaving many survivors still in the camp.
The SS also attempted to blow up the crematorium, but the dynamite failed to explode die to a rushed job.
The prisoners were probably terrified because the SS attempted to liquidate Auschwitz ahead of the Soviet advance and shot several thousand prisoners before marching 80,000 away on foot deeper into Germany.
In their haste and panic they forgot to clear the medical wing, and a few sections of main camp housing, leaving many survivors still in the camp.
The SS also attempted to blow up the crematorium, but the dynamite failed to explode die to a rushed job.