W
hen the Nazi government began prosecuting Jews in Germany, many fled to the Netherlands for safety. To control this tide of refugees, the Dutch government created the Westerbork camp to house these people. When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, they took control over Westerbork and turned it into a transit camp for sending Dutch Jews east to the killing centers. Anne Frank and her family were kept in the camp before being transferred to Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Other famous prisoners included Etty Hillesum and actress Dora Gerson. Very few who boarded a transport train from Westerbork survived their next destination as they were gassed or shot on arrival.
Timeline
Deportations through Westerbork: Sobibor
34,000
Deportations through Westerbork: Bergen-Belsen
4,000
Deportations through Westerbork: Total
Approx. 100,000
Deportations through Westerbork: Theresienstadt
5,000
Deportations through Westerbork: Auschwitz
60,000
Other: Deaths
751 Jews
Place
Westerbork Concentration Camp
Country
Netherlands
Location: City
Westerbork
Other: Westerbork established for German-Jewish refugees
Oct 9, 1939
Other: Last deportation train leaves Westerbork
Sept 13, 1944
Other: SS 1st Lt. Albert Gemmecker became camp commandant
Oct 12, 1942
Other: SS begin deporting Dutch Jews to Auschwitz
Jul 15, 1942
Other: Germans take control of the camp
Jul 1, 1942
Other: Deportations to Sobibor begin
Mar 3, 1943
Other: Germans leave camp as Canadian forces approach
Apr 12, 1945
Other: Prisoner assigned to camp administration
Aug 12, 1943
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