Belzec Extermination Camp
Belzec, Polish spelling Bełżec, was the first of the Nazi German extermination camps created for implementing Operation Reinhard during the Holocaust. Operating from 01942-03-17March 17, 1942 to the end of 01942-12-01December 1942, the camp was situated in German-occupied Poland about 1 km south of the local railroad station of Bełżec in the Lublin district of the General Government.
Between 430,000 and 500,000 Jews are believed to have been killed by German Nazis at Bełżec, along with an unknown number of Poles and Roma; only one or two Jews are known to have survived Bełżec and the war: Rudolf Reder and Chaim Hirszman. The lack of survivors, who could have given testimony, is the primary reason why this camp is so little known despite the enormous number of victims.
Read more about Belzec Extermination Camp: Camp Construction and Purposes, Prior Experience of Killers in German Nazi Murders of Disabled People, Changes To Killing Methods, Concealment of Camp's Purpose From Victims, Camp Operation, Closure and Dismantlement, Subsequent Careers of Camp Personnel, Camp Guards, Kurt Gerstein's Testimony, Death Toll, Remains of The Camp, Postwar Commemoration
Famous quotes containing the word camp:
“Grandfather, you were the pillar of fire in front of the camp and now we are left in the camp alone, in the dark; and we are so cold and so sad.”
—Noa Ben-Artzi Philosof (b. 1978)