Temporary exhibition honoring 72nd anniversary of death of american aviator sgt Alvin J. Ellin
merges few important topics from history of KL Auschwitz. First is the grave of “Unknown American aviator” on the cemetery in Jawiszowice and shooting down the flying fortress B17 St Francais. Second topic is creating anti-aircraft defense system for chemical plant IG Farben Werk Auschwitz and camp complex of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was a vast network of anti-aircraft guns Flak settled around Auschwitz. Third topic is using forced labor of KL Auschwitz prisoners for scrapping aircraft wreckages on the scrapyard Zerlegebetriebe.
Our Foundation’s plans for next year is creating a big exhibition about German anti-aircraft defense, allied bombardments and usage of forced labor workers for scrapping aircraft wreckages in the meaning of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau and IG Farben Werk Auschwitz
History of aircraft Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress by the name of St. Francis is closely tied to German Nazi camp KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. Assault flight, which the aircraft was executing, was aimed at the tin workshops and facility there, but after being damaged and separated from rest of the squadron it wandered to the vicinity of Brzeszcze Jawiszowice, where it was shot by battery from Przecieszyn and ultimately damaged beyond repair. Battery of Flak cannons cal 8,8 Grossbatteri Przecieszyn was set up as part of the great chain of anti-aircraft defense chain of IG Farben Werk Auschwitz complex and camp area of KL Auschwitz. Whole crew of 10 people managed to jump out with parachutes. Damaged, crewless plane glided away and touched down near Wilamowice, where it burned for a few days. Debris of the plane were moved by a horse carriage to Jawiszowice train station, where prisoners from near camp KL Auschwitz-Jawischowitz loaded it on the train which was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau Zerlegebetriebe, that is plane wreckage scrapyard managed by soldiers from German Luftwaffe. Shot planes wreckages from wide area were sent there for salvage of parts and material. Zerlegebetriebe was also name of biggest external prisoner working command of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. Prisoners were going out from KL Birkenau camp and continued on foot to a scrapyard few kilometres away, where tehy were overseed by German Luftwaffe. For many it was , despite hard work and harsh conditions during salvaging scrap, it was a salvation. For a few hours they were away from constant shickans, beatings and fear for their lives. Germans from Luftwaffe, who were overseeing their work at the scrapyard were just plain, normal soldiers without sadistic tastes which marked those SS soldiers from KL Auschwitz. It doesn’t free tchem of responsibility of usage of forced labor tho. The scrapyard itself was a large area with no roof, where prisoners had to work to meet the required limits, nevermind the weather and time of year. History of sgt Alvvin Ellin, aviator shot among the clouds by a German gendarm , buried later at cemetery in Jawiszowice Has been tied up for ever with history of German Nazi concentration camp KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. Aircraft, that sgt was flying in, has been shot by one of the German AA guns battery Flakuntergruppe Auschwitz, and debris was dismantled by prisoners from \KL Birkenau.Word Zerlegebetriebe is a butchery word meaning removing the bones, that was the fate of the aircraft debris – as useless they were, and still are dismantled for parts and useful scrap material.
Fot
– Shrapnel of american bomb / Found in the 70’s during earth works at the area of KL Auschwitz III – Monowitz “Buna”
– St. Francis aircraft navigator calipers signed PARK.INST.CO / Found after the war during field works on the site of plane crash near Wilamowice
– St. Francis pocket watch or a timer signed on the enclosure with barely visible number / Found after the war during field works on the site of plane crash near Wilamowice
– Half of aircraft oxygen tank from American bomber B17/ Obtained after the war at the aircraft scrapyard in Brzezinka, during war it was Zerlegebetriebe Auschwitz – Birkenau
– Switch from the cockpit “Bomber Call Light Switch” / Obtained after the war at the aircraft scrapyard in Brzezinka, during war it was Zerlegebetriebe Auschwitz – Birkenau
– Shell from German aanti-aircraft cannon Flak 19 cal 8,8 / Taken after the war from a firing station in Brzeszcze Przecieszyn
