Auschwitz I was the original concentration camp established by the Nazis in 1940, located in southern Poland. It served as the administrative center for the larger Auschwitz complex, which included Auschwitz II (Birkenau) and Auschwitz III (Monowitz). Initially, it housed political prisoners, but over time, it became a site for the imprisonment and extermination of Jews, Roma, and other targeted groups during the Holocaust. The camp featured barracks, a hospital, and a gas chamber, which were used for forced labor and mass killings. Today, Auschwitz I is preserved as a museum and memorial, educating visitors about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and honoring the memory of the victims.