The Camp Complex
Bergen Belsen was made up of three camps that were established throughout different periods of time. The main camps it included were the POW camp, the Prisoners camp (Häftlingslager), and the Residence camp (Aufenthaltslager)
POW
Also known as Stalag 311, the Prisoner of War camp was in operation from 1940-January 1945. When it was first established, the Germans held 600 French and Belgian prisoners there. After 1941 over 200,000 soviet prisoners were also held there. Between July 1941 and January 1942, more than 11,000 prisoners died there from starvation or disease.
Prisoners
In April 1943, the SS established the Prisoners camp for non-Jews in which 500 were first housed there. Although it was not officially designated as a concentration camp until December 1944, the sub camp served as one. However, the conditions at the camp were very poor and in February of 1944 it closed down and turned into a collection camp for sick and injured prisoners transported from other concentration camps. This was known as the “recuperation camp”. After the "recuperation camp" became overcrowded, the SS moved sick female prisoners into a so-called tent camp. It was established in 1944 for non Jewish women from Poland who had been deported to work in armaments factories. By November 1944, 8,000 women were being held in the Prisoners camp, most being Jewish. After the camp was destroyed due to a storm, a small women’s camp was created and incoming prisoners included Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, were transferred there,
Residence
The Residence camp was established In April, 1943 by the Economic and Administrative Main Office. This complex housed thousands of Jewish prisoners who were separated into four different sub-camps with the intention of exchanging them for German nations held by western Allies. The Germans wanted to create a diplomatic channel to open negotiations for a separate peace with the western allies and hoped it would be accomplished by exchanging the Jews, however only a few were actually exchanged.
POW
Also known as Stalag 311, the Prisoner of War camp was in operation from 1940-January 1945. When it was first established, the Germans held 600 French and Belgian prisoners there. After 1941 over 200,000 soviet prisoners were also held there. Between July 1941 and January 1942, more than 11,000 prisoners died there from starvation or disease.
Prisoners
In April 1943, the SS established the Prisoners camp for non-Jews in which 500 were first housed there. Although it was not officially designated as a concentration camp until December 1944, the sub camp served as one. However, the conditions at the camp were very poor and in February of 1944 it closed down and turned into a collection camp for sick and injured prisoners transported from other concentration camps. This was known as the “recuperation camp”. After the "recuperation camp" became overcrowded, the SS moved sick female prisoners into a so-called tent camp. It was established in 1944 for non Jewish women from Poland who had been deported to work in armaments factories. By November 1944, 8,000 women were being held in the Prisoners camp, most being Jewish. After the camp was destroyed due to a storm, a small women’s camp was created and incoming prisoners included Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, were transferred there,
Residence
The Residence camp was established In April, 1943 by the Economic and Administrative Main Office. This complex housed thousands of Jewish prisoners who were separated into four different sub-camps with the intention of exchanging them for German nations held by western Allies. The Germans wanted to create a diplomatic channel to open negotiations for a separate peace with the western allies and hoped it would be accomplished by exchanging the Jews, however only a few were actually exchanged.