Anti-extremism center opens in former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss

OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) — A U.S.-based organization is transforming the house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss into a research center devoted to fighting extremism, and is introducing it to the public on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on Monday.

The house, which belonged to a Polish military family before Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland, lies next to the site of the former death camp, now the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.

“My dream, and those of our colleagues, is that every visitor, every fellow, every academic that comes here takes action to fight extremism and antisemitism wherever they come from," said Mark Wallace, the CEO of the Counter Extremism Project.

His group bought the house from a private family and is creating the Auschwitz Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization in the house. It opened its doors to reporters on the eve of the anniversary commemorations, showing them the rooms in the three-story house that still need to be renovated.

The project is being launched in partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and under the patronage of UNESCO. Prominent architect Daniel Libeskind is also a collaborator.

The house was featured in the Oscar-winning film “The Zone of Interest,” which depicts the life of Höss, his wife Hedwig and their five children in the house just next to the concentration camp.

As commandant from 1940 to 1944, Höss orchestrated the industrial-scale slaughter at the camp, where gas was used to murder Jews. He was tried by a Polish court and was executed by hanging at the site of the concentration camp in 1947.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is holding observances on Monday for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the camp by Soviet forces.

Mark Wallace, the CEO of the Counter Extremism Project, speaks to reporters in the former home of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, which is being transformed into the Auschwitz Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A view onto the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum can be seen from the former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A view onto the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum can be seen from the former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A grand piano sits in the former home of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, which is being transformed into the Auschwitz Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Jacek Purski, the director of the Auschwitz Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization, speaks to reporters in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

A view onto the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum can be seen from the former house of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, in Oswiecim, Poland, on Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

The former home of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, which is being transformed into the Auschwitz Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization, is seen on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Oswiecim, Poland. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)