Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State is a six-part historical documentary film directed by Laurence Rees for BBC that centers on one of the most unsettling and abhorrent occurrences in history - the infamous factory of death, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In 'Surprising Beginnings', the scene is set for Auschwitz's creation as the Nazi state begins to react violently against its enemies, specifically the Soviet Union, and its experiments with gas execution on Russian prisoners. 'Orders and Initiatives' discusses the plans made by Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Reinhard Heydrich during the Wannsee Conference as the approval for gas chambers and the selection of doctors, who were given the job of deciding who would live or die, were made. 'Factories of Death', 'Corruption', and 'Murder and Intrigue' focuses on the mass annihilation of Jews, the uniqueness of Auschwitz's dual status as a concentration and extermination camp, and the rumors spreading of resistance and potential freedom at the hands of the Allies. Lastly, 'Liberation and Revenge' centers on the efforts made by the Nazis in order to hide the mass murders while survivors search for their families. Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State is a heart-wrenching and poignant look at one of the horrors of history and the lessons it teaches us in how to prevent it from happening in the future. MORE