Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp By Jenna Koske Period 6

 It was not until 1943 that Bergen-Belsen became a concentration camp.  The largest number of people held at the camp before it was liberated was 60,000 prisoners – dead or alive. Background info Bergen-Belsen on a map of Europe Overcrowding at Bergen-Belsen

 Most suffered very slow deaths from starvation, illnesses, or by being worked to death.  In one horrible month, 20,000 inmates died from illnesses and starvation. Horrors/Atrocities

 Most inmates went days without a single ounce of food or water.  Very poor sanitary conditions led to a huge outbreak of tuberculosis, typhoid fever, dysentery, and typhus. Horrors/Atrocities

 Between May 1943 and the day of liberation, April 15, 1945, 37,000 prisoners died  13,000 people died even after liberation because of deadly illnesses. Horrors/Atrocities Survivors and prisoners watching Bergen-Belsen burn down. (Hyperlink to liberation video)

 By far the most famous prisoner that was buried at to Bergen- Belsen was Anne Frank.  Dying of typhus, Anne Frank still showed courage by putting on a brave face in the midst of the horrors around her and took time to boost prisoners’ spirits. Bravery Anne and her sister’s grave at Bergen-Belsen Anne Frank

 After liberating Bergen-Belsen, British forces burned down the entire camp to prevent the spread of diseases such as typhus. Destruction Bergen-Belsen Memorial Site British flamethrowers burning Bergen-Belsen

 Josef Kramer, the leader of Bergen-Belsen himself, showed leadership when he tried to stop the suffering and deaths he caused.  He appealed to the German Nazis and pleaded for more shelter, food, water, and beds for the prisoners. Leadership Nazi Army Josef Kramer