Transcript Concentration camps

German Concentration Camps
Facts versus Fantasies
Theresienstadt Ghetto as painted by one of the inmates during the war
ALL Photos and artwork in this Presentation were found in the Camp Museums
THE CAMP RULES
These Rules are on Display in Sachsenhausen but all
Camps were subject to the same rules.
FREE TIME
Prisoners may spend their free time in the Barracks, reading,writing, or in conversation. Gambling is
forbidden. It is also forbidden to enter other peoples barracks, so is making unnecessary noise,
whistling, singing or playing games. It is forbidden to enter cordoned off areas. Prisoners may use
designated areas but forming groups of more than three persons is not allowed. The Camp Library and
Radios can be used for educational purposes. Party Newspapers may be delivered after gaining
permission from the Camp Commandant.
(Notice that screaming,whining, moaning or crying was
not forbidden so WHY it was necessary to forbid singing, whistling and playing games. And notice they
had access to radios and a Library
Receiving Money All Prisoners are allowed to receive money from their family. Received Monies will be
paid into the Prisoners Account. To buy in the Canteen Prisoners may withdraw up to RM 15,- per week
from their account. However all purchases will be carried out cashless. It is strictly forbidden for
Prisoners to carry cash, including foreign money , to hide cash in cupboards, or horde large sums of
money. (So now we know Prisoners not only had access to Radios and a Library but they had Bank
Accounts as well.)
CUPBOARD RULES The top board is for Letters, Toothbrush, Razor, Tobacco etc. The lower board is
for your Plate and Drinkglass. Behind these you put your bread and other edibles. Spoon and knife are
to be put in the board of the cupboard door. All these are to be kept spotlessly clean. Your coat is to lay
folded on the bottom, number to the top. Shoes are, just before lights out, to be cleaned outside the
Barracks and then placed in front of the cupboard with the socks on top. It is forbidden to take socks
into the sleeping area.
Q: So, what about those skeletons we all see in the Media?
A: Those were people who had caught diseases such as Typhus etc…..now compare
them to these pictures taken by Allied Photogs after the Camps were captured in 1945.
Taken by the Russians in Auschwitz
The two photos
left & right were
taken by the
British in
Bergen-Belsen
Many Prisoners Got Married & had Children
Wedding in Auschwitz 1944:
They had Printed Cards, Photos,
Flowers, Hairdos (not shaven) Suit
& Tie
Another Wedding in Westerbork Camp in Holland and a Photo of two Nurses holding
Babies born in KL Auschwitz (KL= Konzentrations Lager)
What was the Food like ?
Up until the War destroyed most of Germany’s
ability to produce and deliver food to the Camps,
the food was quite adequate.
Most Camps had their own Gardens as the
photos on the right show. Some Camps kept
animals such as Pigs for food (Below right is a
sketch of KL Neuengammes Pig pens)
The Photo below shows a Prisoners meal time
This Photo shows the Daily Food Ration
for Prisoners in Auschwitz
Towards the end of the War, Food became scarce for everyone including the German Population
In many Camps Prisoners
could go SWIMMING:
Left is the Pool in Auschwitz,
below left the pool in
Theresienstadt and below right is
the pool in the Womens Camp of
Ravensbrueck
As well as Swimming, the Inmates could play Football or watch a
Concert & they
even had the
appropriate
Clothing with them?
RELAXATION IN THERESIENSTADT WAS………….
EXPRESSING YOUR ARTISTIC
TALENTS……KNITTING OR…..
JUST WATERING YOUR GARDEN
The Prisoners (NOT the SS Guards) had the use of Brothels. Here we show
(from the top) the Brothel in Mauthausen Camp, below left the Brothel in
Buchenwald and bottom right the Brothel in Dora-Mittelbau
The Brothel in Neuengamme Camp, notice the well kept gardens
Foto: Courtesy Camp Museum
To visit a Brothel a Prisoner had to first get a permit and be checked by the Camp
Doctor.
Below is the Brothel in Buchenwald with a radio on
the wall,flowers and ashtrays on the tables
Orchestra of Neuengamme
There were Orchestral Concerts or Lectures, as painted by a
Prisoner.
What about Christmas ?
This Christmas tree was
standing in a block of
Auschwitz Camp
NEW YEARS PARTY
SACHSENHAUSEN CAMP
Friday 31st Dec 1943
There will be a Buffet, Shooting Gallery,
Circus, Ballet, Dancing, Acrobats, Singing
and many other fun things to do.
The Party starts at 11pm and goes until ???
Jewish Youth celebrating Hannukah in Westerbork Camp and
bottom left, a schoolclass
Prisoners who got ill had access to a Hospital
and a Dental Surgery as these photos from
Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Belsen and
Ravensbrueck show
NURSES in B-Belsen
YES Prisoners were released from the Camps
after they had finished their time.
Above is a release form from Auschwitz and
to the right the Camp Commandant of a Camp
in Hamburg farewells Prisoners who are being
released