Bergen-Belsen facts for kids

Bergen-Belsen is a place in Germany known for several camps that existed there during World War II. The most well-known was the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. It was a place where many people suffered and died under very harsh conditions.

What Was Bergen-Belsen?

Bergen-Belsen was not just one camp. It was a site that held different types of camps over time. These included a prisoner-of-war camp, a concentration camp, and later, a camp for people who had been forced from their homes.

The Prisoner-of-War Camp

From 1940 to 1943, Bergen-Belsen was first used as a prisoner of war camp. This type of camp held soldiers captured during wartime. Many Soviet soldiers were held here. They faced very difficult conditions and many died from hunger and disease.

The Concentration Camp

The Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was built on the same site. It operated from 1942 to 1945. This camp was part of a terrible system used by the Nazis during World War II. They imprisoned people they considered enemies, like Jewish people, Romani people, and political opponents.

Life in the Camp

Life in the concentration camp was extremely hard. Prisoners were given very little food and water. They were forced to do hard labor. Many people became sick because of the poor conditions. There was not enough medicine or proper care. Thousands of people died from starvation, disease, and mistreatment.

Famous Prisoners

Among the many people held at Bergen-Belsen were Anne Frank and her sister, Margot Frank. Anne Frank is famous for her diary, which tells about her family's time hiding from the Nazis. Sadly, both Anne and Margot died at Bergen-Belsen just weeks before the camp was freed.

Liberation of the Camp

In April 1945, British soldiers arrived at Bergen-Belsen. They found thousands of very sick and dying prisoners. The soldiers worked quickly to help the survivors. They brought in food, water, and medical aid. It was a very difficult situation because so many people were ill.

After Liberation

After the camp was freed, the British forces set up a new camp nearby. This was called the Bergen-Belsen DP camp. "DP" stands for "displaced persons." These were people who had been forced from their homes by the war. They stayed in this camp until they could find new places to live.

Remembering Bergen-Belsen

Today, Bergen-Belsen is a memorial site. It helps us remember the terrible events that happened there. Visitors can learn about the history of the camps. There are memorials to the many people who died there. It is important to remember these events to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Images for kids

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  Memorial to Soviet prisoners of war

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  Bergen Belsen crematorium in April 1945

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  British and German officers finalize the arrangements for the ending of their temporary truce, April 1945

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  Women survivors in Bergen-Belsen, April 1945

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  Some of the 60 tables, each staffed by two German doctors and two German nurses, at which the sick were washed and deloused, May 1–4, 1945

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  A crowd watches the destruction of the last camp hut

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  Memorial on the ramp where prisoners arrived

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  Memorial for Margot and Anne Frank at the Bergen-Belsen site

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  One of several mass graves on the site of the former camp; the sign simply reads: '"Here lie 5,000 dead. April 1945"

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  The Jewish Memorial at the site of the former camp, decorated with wreaths on Liberation Day, April 15, 2012

See also

In Spanish: Bergen-Belsen para niños