There were several gas chambers at Auschwitz and its associated camps. Initially, a gas chamber was used in the basement of Block 11 in Auschwitz I in September 1941. Subsequently, Crematorium I at Auschwitz I included a gas chamber used until December 1942. Two smaller brick cottages, known as Bunker I and Bunker II, were also converted into gas chambers at Auschwitz II (Birkenau) and operated until spring 1943 (with Bunker II used again in 1944). The main large gas chambers were in Crematoria II, III, IV, and V at Birkenau, built by 1943, each capable of killing about 2,000 people at a time. To summarize:
- 1 gas chamber in Block 11 basement (Auschwitz I)
- 1 gas chamber in Crematorium I (Auschwitz I)
- 2 gas chambers in farmhouses/Bunkers I & II (Auschwitz II/Birkenau)
- 4 large gas chambers in Crematoria II, III, IV, and V (Auschwitz II/Birkenau)
This totals about eight distinct gas chambers used in Auschwitz and Birkenau camp complex at various times, with the four large ones in Crematoria II-V being the primary extermination chambers during the peak of operations.
