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Sobibor played a crucial role in the Holocaust's implementation, as it was one of the six extermination camps built specifically for the "Final Solution" of the Jewish Question. Located in eastern Poland, Sobibor was established in early 1942 as part of Operation Reinhard, the Nazi plan to exterminate Jews in Poland and the surrounding countries. The camp was built on the site of an old Soviet prisoner-of-war camp, and its construction was overseen by the SS officer, Richard Thomalla. The camp's primary purpose was to exterminate Jews from Poland, the Soviet Union, and other European countries, including Germany and Austria.
At right: Sobibor, Poland, 1943. View of the camp in summer. Retouched to remove artificial duotone, dust and scratches. "The yard in the foreground is Lager I. It's a little hard to recognize at first, since maps often portray it as it appeared a bit later. The area with the buildings in the background is the Vorlager-- towards the left, you can see the green house that's also still there. The SS flag on the right marks the main gate, and behind it you can see the roof of the station." Source: Wikimedia.
The extermination process at Sobibor was brutal and systematic. Jews were transported to the camp in cattle cars and immediately separated by gender. They were then forced to undress and hand over their valuables. After being checked for lice and other insects, they were sent to the gas chambers, where they were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. The bodies were then burned in open pits or cremated in ovens. The camp was equipped with six gas chambers, each capable of killing 200-250 people at a time. The Nazis used a method known as the "reverse flow" technique to ensure that the gas was distributed evenly throughout the chambers. The victims were told that they were going to take a shower, and they were even given soap and towels to maintain the illusion. However, once they entered the chamber, they were locked in, and the gas was released.
Between April 1942 and October 1943, an estimated 250,000 Jews were exterminated at Sobibor. Among them were men, women, and children, including elderly people and infants. The Nazis also murdered several non-Jewish prisoners, including Soviet prisoners of war and Polish civilians. The camp was run by a small group of SS officers and Ukrainian guards, who were known for their brutality and sadism.
Despite the horrific conditions at Sobibor, a group of Jewish prisoners managed to stage a successful uprising on October 14, 1943. Led by Soviet-Jewish officer Alexander Pechersky, the prisoners overpowered the guards, seized weapons, and set fire to parts of the camp. Around 300 prisoners managed to escape, but most were recaptured or killed in the surrounding forests. Only a handful of prisoners survived the war. The Sobibor uprising was one of the most significant acts of resistance during the Holocaust, and it inspired other uprisings in camps such as Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau. The camp was closed soon after the uprising, and the Nazis attempted to cover up their crimes by dismantling the camp and planting trees on the site.
Replies
Hi Scott, it will, it would be also impressive.
This should be a moving and emotional trip Erwin. Fantatstic that you're going.