The following is a compilation of published aerial photographs (with close-ups) of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex. I have also listed visible features relevant to mass extermination and figures on Jewish mass transports (derived from the so called Glaser list) to those days with aerial photographs of sufficient quality and before the halt of the extermination in October 1944.
In the context of Holocaust denial, it is noteworthy that the known aerial photographs show only few seconds of Birkenau from high altitude on few days in 1944, thereof only two days with excessive mass killings taken place (31 May and 8 July 1944 - as opposed to four other days in June and August with "mild" activity and "only" one or two Jewish transports arriving). At such frequency, the photographs cannot depict the actual magnitude of mass killing on a day and over a period. And yet, more or less static features such as open air incineration area, thick security and camouflage screens and discolouration at the gas introduction openings on the gas chambers' roof, as well as repeated heavy smoke from an incineration trench located close to the crematorium 5 gas chambers (also belching smoke on Sonderkommando ground photos) provide more than just a glimpse on the extermination machinery.
A useful resource for information on the various photos compiled by the late Harry Mazal can be found here (just some of scale figures need to be corrected).
Other blog postings related to the Auschwitz-Birkenau air-photos:
The Auschwitz Open Air Incineration Photographs as Evidence for Mass Extermination
In the context of Holocaust denial, it is noteworthy that the known aerial photographs show only few seconds of Birkenau from high altitude on few days in 1944, thereof only two days with excessive mass killings taken place (31 May and 8 July 1944 - as opposed to four other days in June and August with "mild" activity and "only" one or two Jewish transports arriving). At such frequency, the photographs cannot depict the actual magnitude of mass killing on a day and over a period. And yet, more or less static features such as open air incineration area, thick security and camouflage screens and discolouration at the gas introduction openings on the gas chambers' roof, as well as repeated heavy smoke from an incineration trench located close to the crematorium 5 gas chambers (also belching smoke on Sonderkommando ground photos) provide more than just a glimpse on the extermination machinery.
A useful resource for information on the various photos compiled by the late Harry Mazal can be found here (just some of scale figures need to be corrected).
Other blog postings related to the Auschwitz-Birkenau air-photos:
The Auschwitz Open Air Incineration Photographs as Evidence for Mass Extermination
31 May 1944
Unit: South African Air Force 60 Squadron
Air plane: Mosquito
Mission: 60PRS/462 60 SQ
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1508
exposures 3055-3057
Focal length: 20 inches
Flight altitude: 26,000 feet
Scale: 1:15,569
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1510
exposures 5018-5019
exposures 5018-5019
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 27,000 feet
Scale: 1:54,000
Aerial Photographs
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04144 |
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04005 |
Close-up of Auschwitz-Birkenau Compound:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 03977 |
Close-up of Crematoria 4 and 5:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 03998 |
Close-up of Crematorium 2 (exposure 3056):
 |
| Source: Daniel Keren Jamie McCarthy Harry W. Mazal, The Ruins of the Gas Chambers: A Forensic Investigation of Crematoriums at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau, Figure 26 in online version; note that what is marked in the photograph as earth bank seems like a camaflouge fence while what is marked as gas chamber is an earth bank. |
Close-up of Bunker 2 (exposure 3056):
 |
| Source: Mattogno, Auschwitz Open Air Incinerations, Document 20 |
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
- About 300 m² of incineration area in four trenches behind crematorium 5
- Smoke from one of the trenches behind crematorium 5
- Ground-levelled for three barracks at Bunker 2
- About 200 m² of possible incineration area on three sites in the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2, possibly another (fresh?) one close to the house.
- Thick security screen erected between barracks and the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2.
- Discolouration around the four gas introduction openings on the roofs of the gas chambers of crematoria 2 and 3
- Thick security screen erected around crematorium 2 (apart from the South-East part of the site)
- Bright spot at the chimney of crematorium 2 possibly indicating activity
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- 10,022 Hungarian Jews in three transports, thereof about 6600 selected as unfit for work
26 June 1944
Unit: South African Air Force 60 Squadron
Air plane: Mosquito Mission: 60/PR522 60 SQ
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can C1172
exposure 5022
exposure 5022
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 30,000 feet
Scale: 1:60,000Aerial Photograph
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04138 |
Auschwitz-Birkenau Area:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 91530 |
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
(poor quality of photograph)
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
(poor quality of photograph)
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- 3,006 Hungarian Jews in one transport, thereof about 2,400 selected as unfit for work.
8 July 1944
Unit: German Luftwaffe
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Auschwitz Box, envelope 17, security set GX DT/TM-3/Germany-East Auschwitz/neg. no. 38 N50 K19 [Film: 14/44 /LGK VIII) B. Nr. 123]
Aerial Photograph
Close-up of Crematorium 2:
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
12,108 Hungarian Jews in five transports, thereof about 8,800 selected as unfit for work.
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Auschwitz Box, envelope 17, security set GX DT/TM-3/Germany-East Auschwitz/neg. no. 38 N50 K19 [Film: 14/44 /LGK VIII) B. Nr. 123]
Aerial Photograph
 |
| Source: Mattogno, Auschwitz Open Air Incinerations, Document 32 |
Close-up of Crematorium 2:
 |
| Source: Source: Daniel Keren Jamie McCarthy Harry W. Mazal, The Ruins of the Gas Chambers: A Forensic Investigation of Crematoriums at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau, Figure 25 in online version |
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
- Smoke behind crematorium 5
- Discolouration around the four gas introduction openings on the roofs of the gas chambers of crematoria 2 and 3
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
12,108 Hungarian Jews in five transports, thereof about 8,800 selected as unfit for work.
9 August 1944
Mission: USEC R-79
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can B6912
Exposures 1018-1025
Exposures 1018-1025
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: -
Scale: -(no image available)
20 August 1944
Mission: USEC R86
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can B10658
Exposures 5018-5020
Exposures 5018-5020
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 26,000 feet
Scale:1:52,000Aerial Photograph
Exposure 5018:
 |
| Source: Mattogno, Auschwitz Open Air Incinerations, Document 34 |
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
- Smoke behind crematorium 5.
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- About 2,000 Jews from Lodz with one transport, thereof 522 men and an unknown number of women selected as fit for work
23 August 1944
Unit: South African Air Force 60 Squadron
Air plane: MosquitoMission: 60PR/686 60 SQ
National Collection of Aerial Photographs
Can ?
Exposures 3083 - 3086
Focal length: 36 inches
Flight altitude: 29,000 feet Scale: ~ 1:9000
Aerial photograph
 |
| Source: National Collection of Aerial Photographs, 029-091 [exposure 3084] |
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- About 300 m² of incineration area in four trenches behind crematorium 5
- Smoke from one of the trenches behind crematorium 5
- Two horse-stable barracks at Bunker 2
- About 200 m² of possible incineration area on three sites in the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2, another possible incineration site near to the house, which expanded compared to 31 May 44 indicating heavy activity.
- Thick security screen around the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2.
- Discolouration around the four gas introduction openings on the roofs of the gas chambers of crematorium 2 and 3
- Thick security screens erected around crematoria 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- note that the queue of people visible between crematoria 4 and 5 seems to walk away from the extermination sites and thus correspond likely to people selected as fit for work returning from the Zentralsauna bathing facility.
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- About 2,000 Jews from Lodz with one transport, thereof 557 men and an unknown number of women selected as fit for work
25 August 1944
Unit: South African Air Force 60 Squadron
Air plane: Mosquito Mission: 60PR/694 60 SQ
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can F5366
Exposures 5016-5018, 5025-5027
Exposures 5016-5018, 5025-5027
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 30,000 feet
Scale:1:60,000National Collection of Aerial Photographs
Can ?
Exposures 4185 - 4188
Focal length: 36 inches (?)
Flight altitude: 30,000 feet (?) Scale: ~ 1:10,000 National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency (also National Collection of Aerial Photographs)
Can F5367
Exposures 3184-3187
Exposures 3184-3187
Focal length: 36 inches
Flight altitude: 30,000 feet
Scale:1:10,000(exposures 3184-3187 and 4185 - 4188 were taken by two different cameras of the same aircraft, see here)
Aerial Photographs
Exposure 5017:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04007 |
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04006 |
Exposure 4186:
 |
| Source: National Collection of Aerial Photographs, 070-698 |
Close-up of Crematoria 2 and 3 site:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 0393 |
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04300 |
Close-up of Crematoria 4 and 5 (exposure 4188):
Close-up of Bunker 2 site (exposure 4188):
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
- About 300 m² of incineration area in four trenches behind crematorium 5, possibly a fifth incineration site in the North-Western corner of the crematorium 5 backyard.
- Two horse-stable barracks at Bunker 2
- About 200 m² of possible incineration area on three sites in the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2, another possible incineration site near to the house, which expanded compared to 31 May 44 indicating heavy activity.
- Thick security screen around the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2.
- Discolouration around the four gas introduction openings on the roofs of the gas chambers of crematorium 2 and 3
- Thick security screens erected around crematoria 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- About 4,000 Jews from Lodz with two transports, thereof 1,144 men and an unknown number of women selected as fit for work
13 September 1944
Unit: United States Airforce 464th Bombardment Group
Mission: 464 BG:4M97
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can B8413
Exposure 3V1
Exposure 3V1
Focal length: 12 inches
Flight altitude: 23,000 feet
Scale:1:23,000National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can B8413
Exposure 6V2
Exposure 6V2
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 23,500 feet
Scale: 1:11,750Aerial photographs
Exposure 3V1:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 03198 |
Exposure 6V2:
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 91527 |
Visible Activity/Features Related to Mass Extermination
- Two horse-stable barracks at Bunker 2
- Thick security screen around the pentagon-shaped area behind Bunker 2.
- Discolouration around the four gas introduction openings on the roofs of the gas chambers of crematoria 2 and 3 (partly masked by smoke at crematorium 2)
- Thick security screens erected around crematoria 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Jewish Arrivals on this Day:
- No mass transport of Jews (about 1800 Poles from Warsaw).
29 November 1944
Unit: United States Airforce, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
Air plane: P-38 Lightning
Mission: 15SG/887 5PG
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1616
Exposures 3070, 4058-4059
Exposures 3070, 4058-4059
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 26,000 feet
Scale:1:13,000National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1616
Exposures 5017-5018
Exposures 5017-5018
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 26,000 feet
Scale:1:52,000Aerial photograph
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 03987 |
21 December 1944
Unit: United States Airforce, 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
Air plane: P-38 Lightning
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Mission: 15SG/994 15PG
Can D1533
Exposures 3019 - 3022
Exposures 3019 - 3022
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 25,000 feet
Scale:1:12,500National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Mission: 15SG/994 5PG
Can D1534
Exposures 4020, 4022-4023
Exposures 4020, 4022-4023
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 25,000 feet
Scale:1:12,500National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1534
Exposures 5005 - 5008
Exposures 5005 - 5008
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 25,000 feet
Scale:1:50,000Mission: 15SG/997 5PG
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1535
Exposures 3012-3013
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 25,000 feet
Scale:1:12,500National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1535
Exposures 5002-5003
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 24,500 feet
Scale:1:50,000Mission: 15SG/995 5PG
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1535
Exposures 4017 - 4018
Focal length: 24 inches
Flight altitude: 25,000 feet
Scale:1:12,500National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D1535
Exposure 5004 - 5005
Focal length: 6 inches
Flight altitude: 24,500 feet
Scale:1:49,000Aerial photograph
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 03988 |
14 January 1945
Unit: United States Airforce 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
Air plane: P-38 Lightning
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
Can D3777
Exposure 5004
Focal length: 6inches
Flight altitude: 21,000 feet
Scale:1:42,000Aerial photograph
19 February 1945
Unit: German Luftwaffe
National Archives and Records Administration, RG-373, GX 12337/145
Aerial photograph
 |
| Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Photograph no. 04409 |
__________________________________________
Changed on 25/10/2018: implemented some comments of reader r thomas, see comments section.