On this day in 1944, the Sonderkommando (German prisoner work units) at Auschwitz-Birkenau revolted against their Nazi oppressors after months of secretive arms and demolition material smuggling.The Sonderkommando were Jewish prisoners who worked in the death camps, with the primary purpose of disposing of the bodies from the gas chambers, bringing them to the ovens for cremation, and preparing the chambers for the next group. They were forced to lead Jewish men, women, and children from the trains to the changing rooms, shave their hair, help undress them, and lead them into the gas chambers. Then they would be required to remove the bodies afterward, sort through the possessions, remove any golden teeth, and then transfer bodies to the ovens or burning pits. Most Sonderkommando units did not survive more than four months, as the Nazis murdered and replaced them. A group of Sonderkommando at Auschwitz-Birkenau made plans for a revolt, with smuggled gunpowder, crude grenades, and small arms from nearby partisans. The gunpowder had been molded into demolition charges and small knives had been hidden around the camp. However, the impending Soviet arrival that was rumored to coincide with the revolt did not occur. The guards, with the help of nearby Polish citizens, quelled the revolt and executed 200 Sonderkommando. Interrogations went on for months and four of the women involved in the smuggling only gave up the names of the deceased Sonderkommando.