When it became apparent that Germany was losing the war and the Russians were coming closer to Auschwitz, Hoess gave the order to begin destroying evidence. Most of Birkenau was burned to the ground.
At the site a memorial of stone plaques in 23 different languages have been erected, reading:
For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women and children, mainly Jews from various countries of Europe.
