On March 17, 1942, Nazi Germany, with deportations from Lublin and Lviv to the Belzec death camp, beganl extermination of Jews living in the General Government. These deportations marked the beginning of "Aktion Reinhardt."

Approximately 1.5 million Jews were murdered in the Belzec, Sobibor and Treblinka extermination camps. Tens of thousands of victims died as a result of the dire conditions in the ghettos, were murdered in executions accompanying the "liquidation" of most Jewish clusters, as well as while hiding on the "Aryan" side. It can therefore be assumed that the extermination of Jews in the General Government by Nazi Germany in 1942-1943 claimed some 2 million victims.

Today, wreaths were laid and candles were lit at the memorial by representatives of the museum and Belzec local authorities.
Students from the local Elementary School joined in the commemoration of today's anniversary, as they do every year.