Congressional visit to gas chamber, 3 May 1945PreviousThe U.S. Army's Chavez report stated that there were "double glassed lights, sealed and gas proof" in the gas chamber, which was a reference to four of the recessed boxes near the ceiling that contain light fixtures. The Chavez Report also stated that the gas was mixed in the basement and rose through the "top vents" which was a reference to four of the recessed boxes that do not contain a light fixture. The photo below shows a close-up of the light fixture box in the northeast corner of the gas chamber. Note the wiring for a light fixture that has been removed. This box was described as a "gas vent" in the film, made on May 3, 1945, which was shown at the Nuremberg IMT on November 29, 1945. This film can be viewed on the web site of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.  The photo below shows the electrical wiring near the ceiling of the undressing room; just below the wiring is a pipe which enters the south wall of the gas chamber where there are two "top vents" like the one shown in the photo above. If the gas was mixed in the room below and rose through these top vents, as stated in the Chavez Report, the pipe shown in the photo below might have been the means of bringing the gas to the vents. However, there is no similar pipe that enters the north wall of the gas chamber where two more "top vents" are located.   The photograph above shows the door on the north side of the gas chamber which opens into the morgue room. This same door is shown in the background of the photo below which is a still photo from the movie made on May 3, 1945.  PreviousInterior of Gas ChamberExterior of Gas ChamberDisinfection Gas ChambersBack to Table of ContentsHomeThis page was last updated on December 9, 2006 |