How far do you agree that the Nazi

concentration camps in Poland were ‘Death

Camps’ between 1942 and 1945, where Jews were sent to be killed?

By Paige, Chelsea, Cameron and Jake

Conditions

Conditions in the Camps were cramped, dirty and

disgusting. They were packed into the carts for transportation were filled to twice its capacity, they had very little air, and no

toilets. If they were to stay at the camp, the bunks were compact and were crawling with lice and

fleas. The overall conditions of the camps

were awful, and many died through starvation or being

beaten to death.

What made people think that the camps were for work?

The town of Auschwitz had three concentration camps around it, one for political prisoners and

scientific experiments, the second for ‘selection’ when the prisoners arrived and the third camp

had a large industrial plant used for making products.

This could suggest that the prisoners, were forced to work, either as a part of a scientific experiment or in Camp III in the industrial plant, for slave labour. Also,

in January 1945 58,000 prisoners were forced to leave Auschwitz camp and march to other concentration

camps in Germany.This could mean that the Nazis set up some camps for

slave labour instead of death.

Why they could have been used as ‘Death Camps’

Many camps had a number of gas chambers inside them, that were used to kill Jews in large numbers.

Also in Auschwitz there were 4 crematoria buildings, which could

handle the large number of deaths.

Conclusion

In conclusion we think that the camps were used as ‘Death Camps’ as there were more facilities that could deal with death instead

of slave labour. There is evidence for it being used for slave labour, although this labour would have eventually lead to death. One

factor is which Camp are we discussing and the physical appearance of the Jew.