The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has backed Poland's bid to have the Auschwitz concentration camp renamed to highlight the fact that it was built and run by Nazi Germany during World War II.

The Polish government's request to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the name of the site of mass genocide to be changed from Auschwitz Concentration Camp to the Former Nazi German Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau has caused international controversy.

Poland's request comes after a string of incidents over the last decade in which international media mistakenly have referred to the camp as Polish due to its location.

The request also comes prior to the scheduled visit to Auschwitz by German-born Pope Benedict XVI on May 28.

"We share Poland's concerns over the frequent description of Auschwitz as a 'Polish' camp, since this seems to imply that the camp was built in the name of the Polish people," Abraham Foxman, ADL director and a Holocaust survivor said in a statement posted on the organization's Web site.

"Auschwitz stands as a monument to the barbarity of Nazi Germany. In the interest of historical truth and accuracy, the site should be officially designated as a former Nazi German extermination camp."

The ADL has urged UNESCO to officially list Auschwitz as the Former Nazi German Extermination Camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau on the UNESCO World Heritage List.