94 Selection (Holocaust: Reinhard)
Description
This article is from the Holocaust FAQ, by Ken McVay kmcvay@nizkor.org with numerous contributions by others.
94 Selection (Holocaust: Reinhard)
The extermination process at all three camps was similar, and
reflected the reality that the camps existed for the sole purpose of
exterminating the Jews of the General Government.
Transports would arrive, and those who had survived the journey were
herded into a "reception area," where they were told to remove their
clothing and surrender their valuables. A few, a very few, were
sorted out if they claimed experience in trades needed to maintain
the camp, and others survived for a time as workers in the
extermination area.
After cutting the hair off the women (it was reportedly utilized to
manufacture felt boots for the Wehrmacht), the prisoners were told
that they would be fed and assigned to work camps, but that they had
to shower first. They were then driven (with whips and clubs) through
the "tubes", which were enclosed pathways which led from the
reception area directly to the gas chambers, where they were
murdered.
Those too weak to make the trek from the rail platform to the
reception area were taken directly to the extermination camp by
narrow-gauge railroad, and shot. (This proceedure varied at the three
camps, but the result was always the same.)
(For a comprehensive list of documentation regarding the killing
process, see pub/camps/aktion.reinhard, and
http://www.nizkor.org/hweb//orgs/israeli/yad-vashem. Although our
Yad Vashem material is limited, it offers extensive commentary on
both Operation Reinhard, and the prisoner revolts as well. It is
based upon personal and court testimonies for the most part, and
extensively documented.)
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