Getting First-Hand Accounts of Life at a Nazi Concentration Camp
The Holocaust is widely acknowledged as one of the most horrific events in modern history. Over ten million people lost their lives at the hand of the Nazi regime. Most of the victims were of Jewish descent. However, millions of non-Jews also became victims of Hitler’s death camps and concentration camps.
Concentration Camps and Death Camps
At their peak, Hitler had 27 main concentration camps and approximately 1,100 satellite camps running throughout Germany and Europe. He also had centers that were designated as “Extermination Camps”. These camps were the primary cause of the loss of life by over 6 million Jews.
One of the most well-known concentration camps aside from Auschwitz was Dachau. It was built to be a model for the construction and operation of other camps. It was later developed as a work camp in addition to its designation as a Jewish holding camp.
Personal Holocaust Information Resources
One of the best ways to understand life at a concentration camp facility is from Dachau survivor or other concentration camp survivor accounts and records. Through these poignant stories, academics, organizations, students, and the public can gain their most significant understanding of the impacts of the Holocaust on individuals and the lives of entire families and communities.
If you are looking for Holocaust information from a first-hand account, Dachau survivor Ben Lesser has founded his own Holocaust resource center, housing abundant first-hand account details, and historical data. The foundation is dedicated to ensuring people have access to an accurate remembrance of the Holocaust. You can learn more about his foundation at www.zachorfoundation.org.