With the approach of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by Soviet Red Army troops on January 27th, 1945, Reuters photographers got together to take portraits of Auschwitz survivors who are still alive today to tell the stories of their terrible ordeals and ensure that what happened during the Holocaust never be forgotten.
Located in Nazi-occupied Poland, the Auschwitz concentration camp is estimated to have killed 1.1 million people, most of whom were Jews. Of the 200,000 inmates that were freed in 1945, about 300 are alive today.
Many of the survivors in this photo series are Poles who were sent to Auschwitz during the Warsaw Uprising, but the Nazi government sent inmates to Auschwitz from all over Europe. Many chose to post with photos of the families they lost as well.
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Eva Fahidi, 90, holds a picture of her family, who were all killed in the concentration camp
"Auschwitz death camp survivor Eva Fahidi, 90, holds a picture of her family, who were all killed in the concentration camp during World War Two, as she poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Fahidi was 18 in 1944 when she and her family were moved from Debrecen to Auschwitz-Birkenau." (Image credits: REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)
Jerzy Ulatowski, 83, was taken by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau when he was 13 years old
"Jerzy Ulatowski, 83, was taken by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau when he was 13-years-old. In January 1945 he managed to escape with his family, as there was a lack of power in the barbed wire surrounding the camp." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Jadwiga Bogucka, 89, was sent to a death camp with her mother. She's holding a picture of herself from 1944
“During the Warsaw Uprising in August, 1944, when Bogucka was 19, she and her mother were sent from their house to a camp in Pruszkow and then moved on August 12, 1944 by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau.” (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Jacek Nadolny, 77, holds up a wartime photo of his family
“Jacek Nadolny was seven during the Warsaw Uprising, when he was sent with his family to Auschwitz-Birkenau by train.” (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Maria Stroinska, 82, holds a family photo taken before the war
"Maria Stroinska was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when she and her sister were sent from their house to a camp in Pruszkow before she was moved alone by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Halina Brzozowska, 82,was taken from her home with her 6-year-old sister. She holds a picture of herself taken during the war
"Halina Brzozowska was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when her family were sent to a camp in Pruszkow, she and her 6-year-old sister were then moved by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Brzozowska said that it was hard to say what had happened to them, that they were taken from their homes, family and lost their childhood." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Laszlo Bernath, 87, holds up a picture of his family, who were all killed in the concentration camp
"Laszlo Bernath credits his father being a practical man with his survival of Auschwitz. He was 15 when they were taken but his father told him to lie about his age so that they would not be separated. Even whilst in the camp, Bernath had no idea about the gas chambers." (Image credits: REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)
Danuta Bogdaniuk-Bogucka, 80, was 10 years old when she was sent to Auschwitz, where she was used for Josef Mengele's experiments
"Danuta Bogdaniuk-Bogucka was 10-years-old when she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp with her mother. Bogdaniuk-Bogucka was part of Josef Mengele's experiments when she was in Auschwitz." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Barbara Doniecka, 80, was 12 years old when she was sent to Auschwitz. She holds a wartime photo of herself
"Barbara Doniecka was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau with her mother." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Elzbieta Sobczynska, 80, was sent to Auschwitz with her mother and brother when she was was 10 years old
"During the Warsaw Uprising, when Elzbieta Sobczynska was 10-years-old, she was sent with her mother and brother from their home to a camp in Pruszkow and then moved by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. There they were separated into blocks for woman, girls and boys." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Marian Majerowicz, 88, whose mother and younger brother were both killed in the gas chamber
"Marian Majerowicz was 17 when he was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. At the camp he was briefly reunited with his father, who told him that his mother and younger brother were both killed in the gas chambers. Majerowicz's father didn't survive the war." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Erzsebet Brodt, 89, holds a picture of her family, who were killed in the concentration camp
"Erzsebet Brodt was 17-years-old when she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau along with her family. Remembering the journey to the camp she said that those who were "sick or about to give birth were forced out and put into one wagon. When the wagon was opened in Auschwitz we saw that everyone was dead inside." (Image credits: REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)
Stefan Sot, 83, was 13 years old when he was sent from his home to a camp
"Stefan Sot was 13-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, when he was sent from his home to a camp in Pruszkow prior to being sent by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. He was later moved to a labour sub-camp, where he worked in a kitchen for S.S. officers." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Janina Reklajtis, 80, was 12 years old when she and her mother were sent to Auschwitz
"Janina Reklajtis was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when she and her mother were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. They were sent to a labour camp in Berlin in January 1945 and were kept there until they were liberated." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Lajos Erdelyi, 87, holds a drawing made by a campmate
"Lajos Erdelyi was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 1944 and was later moved to another camp. When he was freed he weighed under 30kg, but tried to walk home. He collapsed, and was taken to a hospital by a farmer." (Image credits: REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)
Bogdan Bartnikowski, 82, was 12 years old when he and his mother were sent to Auschwitz
"Bogdan Bartnikowski was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising, when he and his mother were sent to Auschwitz Birkenau camp. They were moved between camps several times. After the war Bartnikowski worked as a pilot and then became a journalist and writer." (Image credits: REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
Janos Forgacs, 87, was in a group transported to a camp in a cattle wagon with sealed windows
“Janos Forgacs, 87, holds a document as he poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Forgacs recalls that he was in a group transported to a camp in a cattle wagon, with the windows sealed with barbed wire. An military officer told them to hand over their belongings, telling them they would not need them anymore.” (Image credits: REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)