Guernsey Press

Anti-extremism centre opens in former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss

The building opened to the public on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp.

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The former home of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss has been transformed into a research centre devoted to fighting extremism, with the building officially opening to the public on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp.

The house, which sits beside the former death camp, belonged to a local military family before the invasion of Poland by Nazi forces in 1939.

It has since been acquired by the Counter Extremism Project, a non-government organisation that combats extremist groups by pressuring financial support networks, countering the narrative of extremists and their online recruitment, and advocating for stronger laws, policies and regulations around the world.

Auschwitz 80th Anniversary Commandant’s House
A view of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum can be seen from the former house of the camp commandant (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

It opened its doors to reporters on the eve of the anniversary commemorations, showing them the rooms in the three-story house that still need to be renovated.

Israel Auschwitz Anniversary
 Naftali Furst and his fellow inmates inside a concentration camp in 1945. (US Army via AP)

He was tried by a Polish court and was executed by hanging at the site of the concentration camp in 1947.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is holding observances on Monday for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp by Soviet forces.

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