Historic Places

22 Auschwitz-Birkenau Questions on History, Memorials & Holocaust Education

This quiz focuses on the history of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp. It covers the tragic developments during World War II and how the site is remembered today.

You will face questions about camp administration, significant historical dates, and key figures. Other questions look at the post-war efforts to preserve the site as an educational memorial.

If you want to keep testing your skills, visit our quizzes on historic places, check out UNESCO architecture, or explore museums and galleries.

In which present-day country is the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau located?

Poland

Poland

Hungary

Hungary

Austria

Austria

Germany

Germany

What was the Nazi regime’s systematic plan for the genocide of Jews, which Auschwitz-Birkenau became the central site for implementing?

The Aryan Paragraph

The Aryan Paragraph

Operation Barbarossa

Operation Barbarossa

The Final Solution

The Final Solution

The Nuremberg Laws

The Nuremberg Laws

In which year was the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp liberated by Soviet troops?

1943

1943

1944

1944

1946

1946

1945

1945

Which German phrase, meaning ‘Work sets you free’, is famously displayed above the entrance gate of the main Auschwitz (Auschwitz I) camp?

Jedem das Seine

Jedem das Seine

Gott mit uns

Gott mit uns

Blut und Boden

Blut und Boden

Arbeit macht frei

Arbeit macht frei

What was the name of the chemical agent commonly used in the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commit mass murder?

Chlorine gas

Chlorine gas

Zyklon B

Zyklon B

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide

Mustard gas

Mustard gas

Which branch of the Nazi party was responsible for the administration and operation of the Auschwitz concentration camp system?

Abwehr

Abwehr

SS (Schutzstaffel)

SS (Schutzstaffel)

Wehrmacht

Wehrmacht

Gestapo

Gestapo

Who served as the longest-serving commandant of Auschwitz, often cited for his role in expanding the camp’s extermination facilities?

Adolf Eichmann

Adolf Eichmann

Heinrich Himmler

Heinrich Himmler

Joseph Mengele

Joseph Mengele

Rudolf Höss

Rudolf Höss

Which sub-camp of the Auschwitz complex was specifically constructed to serve as the primary extermination site with large-scale gas chambers and crematoria?

Monowitz

Monowitz

Birkenau

Birkenau

Gleiwitz

Gleiwitz

Stammlager

Stammlager

Which SS physician and captain became infamous at Auschwitz for conducting cruel and pseudo-scientific human experiments on prisoners, particularly twins?

Arthur Liebehenschel

Arthur Liebehenschel

Karl Fritzsch

Karl Fritzsch

Joseph Mengele

Joseph Mengele

Richard Baer

Richard Baer

In which year was the state museum at the site of the former Auschwitz concentration camp established?

1949

1949

1945

1945

1951

1951

1947

1947

In what year was the Auschwitz-Birkenau site inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List?

1982

1982

1985

1985

1976

1976

1979

1979

Which date is officially recognized as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau?

January 27th

January 27th

January 20th

January 20th

February 3rd

February 3rd

January 15th

January 15th

In 1944, a courageous revolt occurred at Auschwitz-Birkenau involving prisoners who were forced to work in the crematoria; what group were they known as?

Allied paratroopers

Allied paratroopers

Jewish prisoners in the Sonderkommando

Jewish prisoners in the Sonderkommando

Soviet intelligence officers

Soviet intelligence officers

Polish resistance fighters

Polish resistance fighters

What term is used for those who attempt to falsify or minimize the historical facts regarding the atrocities committed at Auschwitz and the broader Holocaust?

Anarchists

Anarchists

Chauvinists

Chauvinists

Pacifists

Pacifists

Holocaust deniers

Holocaust deniers

What is the primary educational mandate of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum?

To demonstrate early 20th-century industrial technology

To demonstrate early 20th-century industrial technology

To serve as a venue for modern political demonstrations

To serve as a venue for modern political demonstrations

To show the architectural planning of labor camps

To show the architectural planning of labor camps

To honor victims and teach future generations about Nazi atrocities

To honor victims and teach future generations about Nazi atrocities

Among the massive amounts of personal items seized from prisoners at Auschwitz, which collection left behind by victims is often considered particularly poignant for museum visitors?

The Crematoria brick pile

The Crematoria brick pile

The Watchtower collection

The Watchtower collection

The shoe collection

The shoe collection

The Barrack reconstruction project

The Barrack reconstruction project

According to modern historical consensus, approximately how many people were murdered at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp complex?

Eight hundred thousand to one million

Eight hundred thousand to one million

Five hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand

Five hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand

One point four million to one point six million

One point four million to one point six million

One point one million to one point three million

One point one million to one point three million

Which of the Auschwitz sub-camps was established primarily as a labor camp to support industrial production for the company IG Farben?

Harmęże

Harmęże

Monowitz

Monowitz

Babice

Babice

Rajsko

Rajsko

What was the significance of the ‘Auschwitz Sketchbook’ and other clandestine documents hidden by camp resistance members?

To document the camp’s history before the Nazis destroyed evidence

To document the camp’s history before the Nazis destroyed evidence

To serve as a diary for the future prison guards

To serve as a diary for the future prison guards

To create propaganda for the Red Cross

To create propaganda for the Red Cross

To track inventory for the Reich’s economic office

To track inventory for the Reich’s economic office

In the context of the museum today, what is the role of organizations like the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation?

They represent the architecture of the expanded gas chambers

They represent the architecture of the expanded gas chambers

They are the primary survivors’ association dedicated to memorialization

They are the primary survivors’ association dedicated to memorialization

They were the SS officers who testified at the Nuremberg Trials

They were the SS officers who testified at the Nuremberg Trials

They act as the main donor body for the museum’s restoration

They act as the main donor body for the museum’s restoration

Why is the physical preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau site considered a vital component of ongoing Holocaust education?

It mandates the removal of all structures for safety reasons

It mandates the removal of all structures for safety reasons

It shifts focus solely to the military battles of WWII

It shifts focus solely to the military battles of WWII

It guarantees that the site will be turned into a residential zone

It guarantees that the site will be turned into a residential zone

It ensures historical truth is preserved despite the passing of survivors

It ensures historical truth is preserved despite the passing of survivors

Why is the iconic large gatehouse at the entrance of the Birkenau camp historically significant?

It was the main administration building for the entire camp system

It was the main administration building for the entire camp system

It was known as the ‘Death Gate’ because of its train tunnel entrance

It was known as the ‘Death Gate’ because of its train tunnel entrance

It was the location where the first gas chamber was tested in 1939

It was the location where the first gas chamber was tested in 1939

It was the secret meeting place for the SS during the Final Solution meetings

It was the secret meeting place for the SS during the Final Solution meetings

You can do better

Not bad

Great!

If you enjoyed this, we have other quizzes covering places, general architecture, and global art.

My passion for travel seamlessly integrates with my love for trivia, as I spend a lot of time on the road. I create engaging trivia quizzes based on the information I gather about new locations, food, music, customs, and people.

Related Posts

No Content Available