Auschwitz was one of the many concentration camps during the Holocaust; the only difference was that Auschwitz was the largest and most brutal Nazi death camp that caused terror to millions of prisoners. Auschwitz was located near Oswiecim, Poland, and extended for several kilometers. Thousands of prisoners were held captive in Auschwitz and had no choice to obey the rules set for them by the SS. Those who respected the rules were put to death on the spot. Thousands of prisoners prayed that one day they would be freed; however, many prisoners spoke their last words between the barbed wires of Auschwitz. Rudolf Hoss was one of the three commanders of Auschwitz. Hoss was born on November 25, 1900. When Hoss was younger he wanted to become a priest; however, after his father's death during World War I, he decided that he no longer wanted to be a priest ("Rudolf Höss"). Since Hoss put an end to his plans to become a priest, he joined the German army in 1916. While in the German Army, Hoss was "wounded three times and twice awarded the Iron Cross" (Bulow, Louis). It was not until 1922 that Hoss met Adolf Hitler and immediately joined the Nazi Party. Shortly after joining the Nazi Party, Hoss was sentenced to ten years in prison for contributing to the assassination of Walter Kadow (Höss, Rudolf). Hoss was released early as part of the general amnesty. Shortly after being released from prison in 1928, Hoss joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) and on 1 August 1938 was appointed adjutant of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp until his appointment as commandant of the newly built camp at Auschwitz in early 1940. " ("Rudolf Höss"). On April 27, 1940, Heinrich Himmler declared that a new camp would be created near Oswiecim, Poland; declaring... middle of paper... concentration camp” (Gloria Hollander Lyon ) Lyon demonstrated that the concentration camps changed people's views on their religion. The prisoners of Auschwitz remained steadfast in their beliefs throughout their time in the camps. Those who survived even continued to practice Jewish customs. Today Auschwitz is still recognized as the center of the Holocaust. Almost seventy years have passed and Auschwitz is still talked about. Museums have even been established to recognize the millions of lives lost due to Auschwitz. Individuals cannot forget what happened in all the concentration camps because once individuals forget, it is very likely that something like this will happen again. Currently, some parts of Auschwitz are still present in Poland. Auschwitz will always be remembered as the largest and most brutal Nazi extermination camp that caused terror and genocide.