Lived experience and the Holocaust: spaces, senses and emotions in Auschwitz

Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most lethal Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust, reveals profound insights into lived experience when analyzed through its spatial, sensory, and emotional dimensions. This study demonstrates that examining individual spaces—such as prisoner bunks, barracks, latrines, crematoria, construction sites, and SS offices—can uncover aspects of daily life in the camp that have been historically overlooked. By integrating spatial history with the histories of senses and emotions, this research provides a more nuanced understanding of Auschwitz, making it more recognizable while contributing to broader debates on Nazi terror. The approach highlights how subjective experiences were shaped by the physical and emotional landscapes of the camp.

Wachsmann, N. (2021). Lived experience and the Holocaust: spaces, senses and emotions in Auschwitz. Journal of the British Academy, 9, 27–58. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/009.027