History Matters Auschwitz and the British When did the British government know of the true role of Auschwitz-Birkenau in the ‘Final Solution’? Barbara Rogers | Published in History Today Volume 49 Issue 10 October 1999 Hungarian Jews divided on the ramp at Auschwitz-II-Birkenau in German-occupied Poland, May or June 1944, during the final phase of the Holocaust. They were sent either to work or to the gas chamber. From the Yad Vashem Auschwitz Album. To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.