Calendar

• 13.10.1941

  Decision to build the camp

  Decision to build the death camp in Bełżec was made during the meeting between Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler, SS-Gruppenführer Friedrich Krüger - Higher SS and Police Leader in the General Government, and Odilo Globocnik - SS and Police Leader in the Lublin District.

  SeeDecision to build the camp
• 30.10.1941

  Beginning of the camp building

  SS-Hauptsturmführer Richard Thomalla from the SS Central Construction Board in Lublin came to Bełżec along with SS non-commissioned officers: Gottfried Schwarz, Josef Oberhauser and Johann Niemann who started arranging construction work.

  SeeBeginning of the camp building
• 01.11.1941

  Appointment of workers to build camp barracks

  Germans who came to Bełżec ordered the local clerks to appoint workers who would build wooden barracks near the railway ramp on the Kozielsk hill.

  SeeAppointment of workers to build camp barracks
• 22.12.1941

  Christian Wirth came to Bełżec

  SS-Obersturmführer Christian Wirth came to Bełżec and assumed command of the construction of the camp.

  SeeChristian Wirth came to Bełżec
• luty 1942

  Completion of construction work

  The construction work was completed by 120 Jews from Lubycza Królewska who were then killed in gas chambers.

  SeeCompletion of construction work
• 17.03.1942

  First deportations. Beginning of "Aktion Reinhardt"

  On March 17, 1942, started mass deportations to the death camp in Bełżec from ghettos in Lublin and Lwow.

  SeeFirst deportations. Beginning of "Aktion Reinhardt"
• 14.04.1942

  End of the first phase of the camp functioning

  As the first phase of deportations finished, the camp functioning was suspended for a month.

  SeeEnd of the first phase of the camp functioning
• 02.06.1942

  Beginning of the deportations from the Krakow District

  Starting from the beginning of June, transports from the Krakow District were directed to Bełżec.

  SeeBeginning of the deportations from the Krakow District
• 18.06.1942

  Erection of concrete gas chambers

  As the camp ceased its functioning, Germans erected concrete gas chambers here.

  SeeErection of concrete gas chambers
• 01.08.1942

  Gottlieb Hering was appointed the commandant of the camp

  Gettlieb Hering substituted Christian Wirth who had been nominated as inspector of the "Aktion Reinhardt" camps – in Bełżec, Sobibór and Treblinka.

  SeeGottlieb Hering was appointed the commandant of the camp
• 10.08.1942

  Beginning of "great action" in Lwow

  In mid-August, Germans commenced deportations of Jews from the ghetto in Lwow.

  SeeBeginning of "great action" in Lwow
• 17.08.1942

  Deportation of Rudolf Reder to Bełżec

  Rudolf Reder was one of only two survivors of the Bełżec death camp who testified about his experience after the war.

  SeeDeportation of Rudolf Reder to Bełżec
• 01.11.1942

  Deportation of Chaim Hirszman to Bełżec

  Chaim Hirszman was sent to Bełżec along with his wife and nearly 2-years-old son. Hirszman was selected to work in the camp and his relatives were killed in gas chambers.

  SeeDeportation of Chaim Hirszman to Bełżec
• 11.12.1942

  Last deportations to the camp

  The last Jews deported to the camp came from Rava Ruska. From December 7 to 11, 2,000-5,000 people were sent to the camp, including escapees from previous transports.

  SeeLast deportations to the camp
• Połowa grudnia 1942

  Beginning of the camp liquidation

  In mid-December, as transports of Jews ceased to be committed to the camp, Germans started its liquidation.

  SeeBeginning of the camp liquidation
• 26.06.1943

  Transport of last prisoners from Bełżec to Sobibór

  A group of last Jewish prisoners, employed to erase the traces of the camp, were deported from Bełżec to Sobibór where they were killed.

  SeeTransport of last prisoners from Bełżec to Sobibór