11 November 1941 | On the Polish Independence Day the Germans carried out the first execution by shooting in the yard of Block 11 of the #Auschwitz camp. Most probably 151 people were shot in the back of their heads - almost all of them Poles. #11listopada 1/5 
Among the executed on 11 November 1941 there were 27 prisoners kept in bunkers of Block 11 for various offenses & 44 prisoners summoned from the camp by the Political Department (camp Gestapo). Unconfirmed accounts mention 80 Poles transported from the prison in Mysłowice. 2/5
The victims had to undress completely. Then their hands were tied. Before the execution, their numbers were written on their chests or their thighs. They were shot by SS-Hauptscharführer Gerhard Palitzsch. 3/5
In his report from 1945 captain Witold Pilecki mentioned one of the victims of the execution. A sculptor and reserve lieutenant Tadeusz Lech (camp no. 9235) told him a few hours before his death: „It makes me happy that I’ll die on November 11”. 4/5
In the camp death certificated of prisoners who were executed on 11 November 1941 it was written: "Erschiessung wegen Widerstand gegen die Staatsgewalt” (Shot for resistance to state authorities). 5/5
