Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp

Plaszow (), officially named Plaszow concentration camp near Krakow (), was a German Nazi concentration camp operated by the SS in the area of Podgórze and Wola Duchacka near Płaszów, a southern suburb of Kraków, in the General Governorate of German-occupied Poland. Most of the prisoners were Polish Jews who were targeted for destruction by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. Many prisoners died because of executions, forced labor, and the poor conditions in the camp. The camp was evacuated in January 1945, before the Red Army's liberation of the area on 20 January.

History

thumb|Major Nazi German concentration camps in occupied Poland (marked with squares)

Originally intended as a forced labour camp, the Płaszów concentration camp was constructed on the grounds of two Jewish cemeteries (old and new Jewish cemeteries in Podgórze). It was populated with prisoners during the liquidation of the Kraków Ghetto, which took place on 13–14 March 1943 with the first deportations of the Barrackenbau Jews from the Ghetto beginning 28 October 1942. In 1943 the camp was expanded and integrated into the Nazi concentration camp system as a main camp.

Camp operation

Structure and function

The Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp was divided into multiple sections. There was a separate area for camp personnel, work facilities, male prisoners, female prisoners, and a further subdivision between Jews and non-Jews. Although separated, men and women still managed to have contact with one another. There was also a private barracks for the camp's Jewish police and their families. While the primary function of the camp was forced labor, the camp was also the site of mass murder of inmates as well as prisoners brought in from the outside. The main targets were the elderly and the sick. There were no gas chambers or crematoria, so mass murder was carried out by shootings.

Personnel

Under Arnold Büscher, the camp's second commandant, prisoners did not experience any shootings or hangings. However, by 1943, the camp was notorious for its terrors. Amon Göth, an SS commandant from Vienna, was the camp commandant at this point. He was sadistic in his treatment and killing of prisoners. "Witnesses say he would never start his breakfast without shooting at least one person." In reality, they were all put in an orphanage and killed. Others snuck their children into the camp. If a prisoner tried to escape the camp, Göth shot 10 prisoners as a punishment. He oversaw a staff that was mostly non-German. 600 Germans of the SS-Totenkopfverbände (1943–1944), and a few SS women, including Gertrud Heise, Luise Danz and Alice Orlowski.

The female guards treated the prisoners as brutally as the men: "When we were loaded on the train in Płaszów, an SS woman hit me on the head. They were so vicious and brutal and sadistic, more than men. I think because some of them were women and you expect kindness, it was shocking. But of course, some were fat and big and ugly."

Jewish police were recruited by the camp personnel.

Prisoner victims

Life in the camp

thumb|The balcony of [[Amon Göth's villa in Płaszów. Although Göth was ruthless and would shoot at prisoners, he could not do so from this balcony as the terrain and the layout of the camp infrastructure precluded this. He used to step outside to hunt humans, with his Tyrolean hat marking his intentions. It was the signal for seasoned prisoners to attempt to hide.]]

The camp was an Arbeitslager ("labour camp"), supplying forced labour to several armament factories and to a stone quarry. Most of the prisoners were Polish Jews. There were also high numbers of women and children compared with other camps. Their bodies were then covered with dirt, layer upon layer. During these mass shootings, all other inmates were forced to watch. A food for food trading system also developed. For example, two portions of soup was equal to a half loaf of bread.

When Göth received notice of a new shipment of inmates, he would set up deportations for Auschwitz. On 14 May 1944 Göth ordered all children to be sent to the "kindergarten". This turned out only to be a precursor to deportation to Auschwitz on 15 May where the children were all gassed.

Göth entrusted documents pertaining to the mass killings and executions to a high ranking female member of the SS, Kommandoführerin Alice Orlowski. She held these documents in her possession until the end of the war, then allegedly destroyed them. Orlowski was known for her whippings, especially of young women across their eyes. At roll call she would walk through the lines of women and whip them.

Outside aid

Prisoners could also rely on outside help to some degree. Prisoners were warned that if they tried to escape, every member of their family and even innocent strangers would be killed. In terms of methods for killing, death by hanging was a favored method of Göth's. For a standard punishment, twenty-five lashings were dealt to the guilty inmate's buttocks.

Hope for the prisoners

While prisoners' daily lives were dominated by fear and starvation, there were some outlets for hope of survival. Rumors involving the Russian advancement that would lead to the camp's liberation always circulated. Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi Party who saved the 1,200 Schindlerjuden, was also a key figure. Schindler was known for being compassionate towards Jews. He never hit anyone, was always kind, and smiled frequently around the workers. Having relatives and friends that worked for Schindler gave one a better chance at being put on the list for transport.

Hiding the evidence

During July and August 1944, a number of transports of prisoners left KL Płaszow for Auschwitz, Stutthof, Flossenburg, Mauthausen, and other camps. In January 1945, the last of the remaining inmates and camp staff left the camp on a death march to Auschwitz. Several female SS guards were part of the group that accompanied them. Many of those who survived the march were killed upon arrival. When the Nazis realized the Soviets were approaching Kraków, they completely dismantled the camp, leaving only an empty field. All bodies that had been previously buried in various mass graves were exhumed and burned on site. On 20 January 1945, the Red Army arrived and found only a patch of barren land.

Monument to the Victims of German Fascism (1964 by arch. Witold Cęckiewicz), Kamienskiego street, Kraków, Poland.jpg|Monument to the Victims of Fascism (erected in 1964)

File:Plaszow memorial.webm|Plaszow camp memorial

Dawny obóz koncentracyjny Płaszów 2019a.jpg|The sign at the south entrance to the Plaszow camp area

Projection_satellite_de_l'ancien_camp_de_Płaszów.jpg|Aerial shot, 2012

Chujowa Gorka.JPG|Hujowa Górka, the place where the Germans carried out executions, 2008

WWII, KL Plaszow, 1942-1945 German concentration camp for Jews (place of execution C-dołek), Kamieńskiego street, Podgórze, Krakow, Poland.jpg|C-dołek, the place where the Germans carried out executions, 2013

Podgorze's old and new Jewish cemeteries, (1942-1945 KL Plaszow, German concentration camp for Jews), Jerozolimska street, Podgórze, Krakow, Poland.jpg|Podgorze's old and new Jewish cemeteries, 2011

KL Plaszow former german concentration camp, Grey House-prison(karzer),Krakow,Poland.JPG|Grey House, 2010

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