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Why did U.S. Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy reject bombing Auschwitz in 1944?

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Auschwitz: entrance gates — Auschwitz The entrance gates to the Auschwitz concentration camp, near Kraków, Poland; the sign reads “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Liberates”).

In August 1944, U.S. Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy rejected requests to bomb the Auschwitz extermination camp, citing three primary reasons:1

Diversion of Resources: He argued that such an operation would require diverting significant air support essential for "decisive operations" elsewhere in the war effort.1
Doubtful Efficacy: He claimed the mission would be of questionable effectiveness in halting the killing process.1
Risk of Retaliation: He expressed concern that such an effort might provoke even more "vindictive action" by the Germans against the prisoners.1

It is important to note that these justifications remain controversial. Historical records indicate that no formal study on the feasibility of bombing Auschwitz was conducted by the War Department at that time. Instead, the decision aligned with a broader, pre-existing policy established in January 1944, which dictated that U.S. military units would not be employed for the purpose of rescuing victims of enemy persecution unless such opportunities arose during routine military operations. The U.S. government maintained that the most effective way to assist victims was to ensure the "speedy defeat of the Axis".1