Europe 4 min read

It’s the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Photos from that day

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Editors Desk Source: CNN:::

Updated 269 day ago

Survivors of Auschwitz leave the concentration camp at the end of World War II in February 1945. Above them is the German slogan Arbeit macht frei, which translates to Work sets you free. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Soviet Army liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland on January 27, 1945.

About 7,000 prisoners were there when the Soviets arrived. Those people had been left behind — too weak or sick to move when Nazi officers forced nearly 60,000 prisoners to march west as the Soviets approached.

More than 1.1 million people were murdered at the Nazi camp complex.

Editor's note: This gallery contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.

Prisoner identification photos of child inmates at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp were taken by Polish portrait photographer and fellow prisoner Wilhelm Brasse, who was ordered to document prisoners in the camp. — Identification photos of child inmates at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp were taken by Polish portrait photographer and fellow prisoner Wilhelm Brasse, who was ordered to document prisoners in the camp. Auschwitz consisted of three main camps: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II (also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau) and Auschwitz III (also known as Auschwitz-Monowitz).

This aerial photo shows the layout of the Auschwitz I camp in April 1944. — This aerial photo shows the layout of the Auschwitz I camp in April 1944. AP

Prisoners of Auschwitz greet their liberators in 1945. — Prisoners of Auschwitz greet their liberators in 1945. Belarusian State Archive of Documentary Film and Photography/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

An electrified fence surrounds one of the camps. — An electrified fence surrounds one of the camps. RIA Novosti/Sputnik/AP

Corpses of women are piled up on the floor in February 1945. — Corpses of women are piled up on the floor in February 1945. Stanisław Mucha/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

This is the first page of a prisoners list that was prepared by hospital staff after the liberation. This page shows 'kinder ohne eltern,' or children without parents. — This is the first page of a prisoners list that was prepared by hospital staff after the liberation. This page shows "kinder ohne eltern," or children without parents. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

Ivan Dudnik, a 15-year-old Russian, is rescued. The teen was described as insane from the treatment at the camp. — Ivan Dudnik, a 15-year-old Russian, is rescued. The teen had been described as insane from the treatment he received from the camp. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images

A large pile of prayer shawls, confiscated by the Nazis from arriving prisoners, are seen stored in one of the warehouses in Auschwitz. — A large pile of prayer shawls, confiscated by the Nazis from arriving prisoners, are seen stored in one of the warehouses in Auschwitz. National Archives and Records Administration/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Civilians and soldiers recover corpses from common graves shortly after the liberation. — Civilians and soldiers recover corpses from graves shortly after the liberation. Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images

A few survivors of Auschwitz stand near the fence during the arrival of the Red Army on January 27,1945. — A few Auschwitz survivors stand by a fence as the Soviet Army arrived to liberate the camp. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The ruins of gas chambers — blown up by Germans retreating from the Soviets — are seen in January 1945. — The ruins of gas chambers — blown up by Germans retreating from the Soviets — are seen in January 1945. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

A pile of glasses are found in the Auschwitz concentration camp. — Glasses of prisoners are piled up at the camp. Roger Viollet/LAPI/Getty Images

Child survivors of Auschwitz show their tattooed arms. — Child survivors show their arms, which has been tattooed by the Nazis. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Bodies of prisoners were found covered in snow on the main street of the camp. — Bodies of prisoners were found covered in snow on the main street of the camp. Henryk Makarewicz/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Survivors of Auschwitz stand behind a barbed wire fence. Some of the children are seen wearing adult clothing they were dressed in by Soviet soldiers. — Survivors stand behind a barbed-wire fence. Some of the children are wearing adult clothing they were dressed in by Soviet soldiers. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Bales of hair from female prisoners, numbered for shipment to Germany, were found after the camp's liberation. — Bales of hair from female prisoners, numbered for shipment to Germany, were found after the camp's liberation. National Archives and Records Administration/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Female survivors in the barracks at the camp. Hundreds of prisoners were housed in the crowded quarters. — Female survivors in the barracks at the camp. Hundreds of prisoners were housed in the crowded quarters. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

This train was loaded with the personal effects of Auschwitz victims. It was abandoned before it could make its trip to Germany. Some of the freight is scattered and buried in the snow. — This train was loaded with the personal effects of Auschwitz victims. It was abandoned before it could make its trip to Germany. Some of the freight is scattered and buried in the snow. Stanisław Mucha/Instytut Pamieci Narodowej/United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Soviet soldiers are seen with liberated prisoners. — Soviet soldiers are seen with liberated prisoners. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group Editorial/Getty Images

Prosthetic limbs taken from executed prisoners are seen in a pile at the camp. — Prosthetic limbs taken from executed prisoners are piled at the camp. AFP/Getty Images

An overview of the camp in 1945. — An overview of the camp in 1945. Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenaua

Prisoners gather a couple of days before the camp's liberation. — CaptionPrisoners gather a couple of days before the camp's liberation. RIA Novosti/Sputnik/AP

Nazi officer Karl Hoecker lights a candle on a Christmas tree only weeks before the liberation of Auschwitz. It is a page from an album that depicted activities in and around the camp. — Nazi officer Karl Hoecker lights a candle on a Christmas tree only weeks before the liberation of Auschwitz. It is a page from an album that depicted activities in and around the camp. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Jewish men are lined up at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in May 1944. This photo is from a Nazi documentation of the events at the camp. — Jewish men are lined up at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in May 1944. This photo is from a Nazi documentation of the events at the camp. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

This picture shows prisoners' bodies being burned in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in August 1944. It was secretly taken by a Jewish prisoner who was forced to work in and around the gas chambers. — This picture shows prisoners' bodies being burned in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in August 1944. It was secretly taken by a Jewish prisoner who was forced to work in and around the gas chambers.Courtesy Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

Jewish prisoners wait in a clearing near a grove of trees before being led to the gas chambers in May 1944. — Jewish prisoners wait in a clearing near a grove of trees before being led to the gas chambers in May 1944. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

This undated photo, taken by a guard, shows female prisoners lined up for a hard labor assignment. — This undated photo, taken by a guard, shows female prisoners lined up for a hard labor assignment.AP

A Jewish woman walks toward the gas chambers with three young children and a baby in her arms in May 1944. — A Jewish woman walks toward the gas chambers with three young children and a baby in her arms in May 1944. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Bodies were brought up to this crematorium to be incinerated at one of the camps. — Bodies were brought up to this crematorium to be incinerated at one of the camps. Galerie Bilderwelt/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jewish women selected for forced labor stand at a roll call in front of the kitchen at Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 1944. — Jewish women selected for forced labor stand at a roll call in front of the kitchen at Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 1944. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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