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Poland: The last death march

January 28, 2014

A small group of elderly Poles has paid tribute to the victims of the last death marches from Auschwitz by walking the same route. It took them three days to cover the 77 kilometers.

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65 Jahre Befreiung Auschwitz
Image: AP

In mid-January, 1945, shortly before the Red Army arrived, the Nazis ordered the evacuation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. About fifty-six thousand inmates were forced to head on foot towards the town of Wodzisław Śląski. Fifteen thousand died on the way. From Wodzisław, the survivors were taken by train to camps in Germany. Jan Stolarz initiated this commemorative walk three years ago and takes part every year. Along the route there are numerous graves, monuments and memorial plaques.

Auschwitz Tor
Image: picture alliance/dpa