Img. ID: 568407
Stone 14
BELZEC
LOCATED NEAR THE CITY OF LUBLIN IN SOUTHEASTERN
POLAND BELZEC WAS DESIGNED AS A DEATH CAMP
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NAZIS AKTION REINHARD
IN ANNIHILATING JEWS IN THE INTERIOR OF OCCUPIED
POLAND.
IN THE MONTH FOLLOWING MARCH 1942 WHEN
BELZEC BEGAN OPERATING PRISONERS FROM THEN
LUBLIN DISTRICT WERE JOINED BY JEWS FROM
EASTERN GALICIA GERMANY AUSTRIA AND
CZECHOSLOVAKIA SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE
(INCLUDING AT LEAST 2,000 NON-JEWS MOST OF WHOM WERE GYPSIES) DIED AT BELZEC POISED
BY CARBON MONOXIDE PUMPED INTO SEALED
CHAMBERS. THE NAZIS LIQUIDATED THE CAMP IN
THE SPRING OF 1943.
AS PART OF THE GERMAN PLAN TO PHASE OUT THE
CAMP BODIES WERE EXHUMED FROM MASS GRAVES
AND CREMATED WITH TREES PLANTED OVER THE
PLOWED SITE. THE REMAINING 600 JEWISH CAPTIVES
WERE MURDERED. KUDOLF REDER WAS ONE OF THE
FEW PRISONERS TO ESCAPE DEATH AND GIVE
TESTIMONY TO THE HORRORS OF BELZEC.
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