The Birdman of Auschwitz

Dr. Günther Niethammer, an ornithologist, conducted bird surveys at Auschwitz, ignoring atrocities, earning the title "Birdman of Auschwitz."When Soviet troops were liberating Auschwitz concentration camp in January 1945 among the piles of half burnt corpses and emaciated prisoners left behind, they were amazed to find nesting boxes for birds. The same boxes were found in the walled garden at the house of Rudolf Hoess, the notorious camp commandant. In his safe, they also discovered a research paper on the birds of Auschwitz with a personal dedication. It read I owe this to the great understanding which the commandant of Konzentrationslager Auschwitz, SS-Sturmbannfhrer H, gave to the scientific development of this area and the research tasks that the German expansion in the East brings with it.The nesting boxes and research paper belonged to one of the most erudite but naive guards ever to serve at the camp, Dr. Gnther...