Conditions in the camps
When the prisoners were arrested, they were taken into trains that had no bathrooms and very small space. As soon as they reached the camps, the men were separated from the women. Families were separated, some never to see their loved ones again. They were stripped of their identity and given numbers. After that, they were hurriedly stuffed into bunkers that they would share with very many people.
Prisoners were put in old brick barracks. Several hundred three tier wooden bunks were placed in every building for about six people in each tier. There was no insulation in the buildings, it lacked heat and sanitary facilities. That led to many hygiene related diseases. They also had to live with Vermin and Rats.
In these camps they also did not get good or enough nutrition. they were fed three times a day, but very little. Most camps fed prisoners specific amounts of calories according to their labor assignments. Many of them experienced organic deterioration that eventually ended in death.
Working days were very long. Eventually the Third Reich made a law that the maximum amount of work that is allowed to be done in one day by one person was eleven hours. Some camps were a lot harder than others. The pace of work, abuse from guards, and rations led to much higher death rates.
Prisoners were put in old brick barracks. Several hundred three tier wooden bunks were placed in every building for about six people in each tier. There was no insulation in the buildings, it lacked heat and sanitary facilities. That led to many hygiene related diseases. They also had to live with Vermin and Rats.
In these camps they also did not get good or enough nutrition. they were fed three times a day, but very little. Most camps fed prisoners specific amounts of calories according to their labor assignments. Many of them experienced organic deterioration that eventually ended in death.
Working days were very long. Eventually the Third Reich made a law that the maximum amount of work that is allowed to be done in one day by one person was eleven hours. Some camps were a lot harder than others. The pace of work, abuse from guards, and rations led to much higher death rates.
Some of the earlier prisoners were forced to carry the bricks to the new buildings that were being made for the many more people to be expected. They were forced to carry until their lives ended. In some cases the guards would take them outside and make them dig a hole. When they were done the guards shot them and pushed them into it.
Execution was a very big cause of death in camps. Prisoners would have to line up and be shot in the head. One by one, they would watch each other die. Usually, the guards would burn the bodies to have room for the next ones. The old, the young, and the weak were very quickly decided that they were not fit to work so they were either gassed or shot to death.
Hygiene was a very big problem in the camps. This was mainly because of the lack of very many bathrooms and washrooms. Bunking with vermin and rodents was dirty enough without the fact of not having much to clean with.
Prisoners were often used for experiments in the medical area. The victims of the experiments experienced high altitude, sterilization, and the freshening of sea water (all to the advantage of the military), freezing, and many different poisons. Mostly, they suffered more mentally and physically more than anything else.
Execution was a very big cause of death in camps. Prisoners would have to line up and be shot in the head. One by one, they would watch each other die. Usually, the guards would burn the bodies to have room for the next ones. The old, the young, and the weak were very quickly decided that they were not fit to work so they were either gassed or shot to death.
Hygiene was a very big problem in the camps. This was mainly because of the lack of very many bathrooms and washrooms. Bunking with vermin and rodents was dirty enough without the fact of not having much to clean with.
Prisoners were often used for experiments in the medical area. The victims of the experiments experienced high altitude, sterilization, and the freshening of sea water (all to the advantage of the military), freezing, and many different poisons. Mostly, they suffered more mentally and physically more than anything else.