What were conditions in the nazi concentration camps like?

Answer 1

Conditions in the concentration camps were terrible. Nazis controlled and made the Jews or any kind of person in the camp work. Many people were killed and in brutal ways. Jews were told to take showers, but really were killed by the gas. People were also shot.

Conditions were very poor. Several people had to share one bunk.

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In concentration camps the prisoners were housed mainly in low wooden huts (often referred to as 'barracks') and had to sleep in shared wooden bunks. They had to work very long hours (up to 11 hours a day, six days a week) on very little food (and no pay apart from the occasional low value 'bonus coupon' at some camps). The camps were run by the SS who were ardent believers in physical punishment. If the prisoners did not work to the satisfaction of the guards they were usually whipped (25 lashes on the bare back) ... For disobeying the guards there were harsher punishments.

What went on in the concentration camps was not subject to the law of the land after June 1933. So, sadistic or hate filled guards could ill-treat prisoners just as they liked.

There were very prolonged roll-calls, supposedly to check that everyone was accounted for. If the SS men said the numbers didn't add up, then roll-call started all over again ... During roll-call, the prisoners had to stand to attention but the SS guards could move around. On 12 December 1938, a bitterly cold night, roll-call at Buchenwald lasted over 14 hours and at the end of it several prisoners were dead.

In extermination camps most newly arrived prisoners were gassed or shot as soon as practical after arrival.

Answer 2

Terrible