Camp Westerbork

Putting on blood-stained gloves on my rails, nothing is visible.

Kamp Westerbork is located in Hooghalen in the municipality of Westerbork in Drenthe. The camp was built to house refugees who had fled their own countries due to wars. During the Second World War, Westerbork was occupied by the Germans from 1942 to 1945 and used as a transit camp. In the camp, over 100,000 Jews living in the Netherlands, 245 Roma, and dozens of resistance fighters were deported by train to concentration and extermination camps in Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. One of the concentration camps was Auschwitz. This is located approximately 1,100 kilometers away from Westerbork. Those who were transported to Auschwitz were often crammed into overcrowded cattle cars. The journey lasted about three days. The Germans had told the deportees that they had to go work in a concentration camp. As a farewell, the deportees were allowed to send a postcard. These preserved cards are displayed in the Westerbork Memorial Museum. Unaware of the horrors that awaited them in Auschwitz or other camps.

Approximately 5,000 of them returned.

Anne Frank and her family arrived on August 8, 1944, and were deported to Auschwitz on September 3 with the last train from Westerbork.

“Dearest sweetheart, We are now waiting on the platform for the train. It had to be this way, my darling. We will go with our heads held high and courage in our hearts. I will come back, my love. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I hope you receive this card.” – Fragment of a card to a loved one

Camp Organization

In 1942, the commandant of the camp was SS officer Albert Konrad Gemmeker. His predecessors did not meet the requirements set by Berlin to deport the Jews as quickly and quietly as possible. They acted very harshly, which created a lot of resistance and unrest in the camp. Gemmeker managed to run the camp without friction or incidents. He presented himself as a respectable gentleman who treated the Jews correctly. He rarely interfered with the daily operations. His main goal was to meet the weekly quota of Jews to be delivered. He left the daily operations to the camp organization.

The camp organization consisted of German Jews (Alte Lagerinsassen) who had been there since it was still a refugee camp. As long as the camp organization met the weekly deportation requirements, their power over their fellow prisoners was very significant. After all, they ultimately determined who was on the deportation list.

Life in the Camp

In some ways, the camp resembled an ordinary Dutch city. Children were born, cremations took place, and marriages were solemnized.

To allow the prisoners to lead their lives as normally as possible, camp commandant A.K. Gemmeker encouraged recreational activities. The camp had an excellent cabaret for several years. In addition, there were theater and music performances. Sports competitions, such as football and athletics, were also held. Participating in these activities was important because it provided temporary exemption from deportation.
The Nazis gave the impression that they treated the Jews well, as evidenced by the presence of a well-equipped hospital. Everything in the camp was aimed at making the Jews believe that they would be sent to concentration camps in Eastern Europe to work hard.

Doubts arose among the prisoners when trains departed with only the elderly, sick, and children. There were also many rumors circulating in the camp that the Nazis had sinister plans. By clinging to work, they hoped to be indispensable. There were plenty of opportunities to escape. Not only because many worked outside the camp fences but also because they were sent elsewhere for assignments. However, if family members were left behind in the camp during an escape attempt, they would be deported. This deterred most prisoners from attempting to escape. The decent treatment by the Nazis, the system of exemptions, and the hospital all had no other purpose than to create the illusion that the Nazis had the best intentions for the Jews. In the end, almost everyone ended up meeting the deportation requirements.

In conclusion

For more information about Camp Westerbork, please visit the website of the Westerbork Memorial Center: www.kampwesterbork.nl

Picture of Stanley

Stanley

Stanley Siousias has a deep passion for nature and macro photography. With his camera in hand, he immerses himself in the beautiful world of nature. He finds satisfaction in capturing the smallest details and discovering the hidden beauty around us.

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