Bergen-Belsen DP camp
Encyclopedia
Near the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
, British
forces established a displaced persons (DP) camp
for refugees after World War II
. The site used abandoned German
army Panzer
barracks for housing facilities, and after November 1945, Jewish refugees were given their own section. The camp was the largest DP camp in Germany with 11,000 residents in 1946 and the only exclusively Jewish facility in the British sector.
The British authorities tried to rename the camp Hohne
to avoid the association with Nazi
genocide
at the concentration camp nearby, but the Holocaust survivors who were residents (Sh'erit ha-Pletah
) in the camp refused to accept the name change and persisted in calling the DP camp Bergen-Belsen.
The camp included a hospital, which after a time was renamed the Glynn Hughes Hospital after British Brigadier Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes
, the first medical officer who entered Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
In 1946, the DP camp housed over 11,000 Jews. Though Bergen-Belsen was the only all-Jewish camp in the British zone of Germany, the camp's survivors struggled with the British before securing an exclusively Jewish community.
The leader of the survivors, Josef Rosensaft
organized the first Central Committee of Liberated Jews in the camp, an organization that grew to be the main organization of its kind in Europe. Under the stewardship of Rosensaft, Norbert Wollheim
and Rafael Olewski, the Committee grew into an organization that lobbied the British on behalf of the DPs' political, social, and cultural aims, including the right to emigrate to British-controlled Palestine.
The refugees maintained active opposition to British restrictions on Jewish immigration to the British Mandate of Palestine, and until 1949 (well after the establishment of the State of Israel), British authorities did not allow free passage in and out of the camp. In 1946, administrative responsibility for the camp passed to the UNRRA, though British occupying forces maintained security around the camp. Nevertheless, the Haganah
established secret training programmes on the camp grounds in December 1947.
For their part, the refugees organized a vibrant community within the camp. Schools were established within months of the liberation, and at one point there were 20 weddings every day in the camp. A newspaper known as Unzer Sztyme (Yiddish for "Our Voice") was initiated by Rafael Olewski and was edited by him and by his colleagues Paul Trepman and David Rosenthal; it published by the Culture & History committee of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in the camp (headed by Olewski, Trepman & Rosenthal) and was the main Jewish newspaper in the British sector. The DPs founded an elementary school as early as July 1945, and by 1948, 340 pupils attended the school. A high school, which was staffed partly by soldiers from the Jewish Brigade
(the Palestinian Jewish unit of the British Army) was established in December 1945. The DPs also provided education for the children of Bergen-Belsen. There was a kindergarten, an orphanage, and a yeshiva
(a religious school). The Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT) vocational training schools organized occupational education.
By 1951, the camp was vacated, the majority of refugees having emigrated to the State of Israel.
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces established a displaced persons (DP) camp
Displaced persons camp
A displaced persons camp or DP camp is a temporary facility for displaced persons coerced into forced migration. The term is mainly used for camps established after World War II in West Germany and in Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom, primarily for refugees from Eastern Europe and for the...
for refugees after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The site used abandoned German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
barracks for housing facilities, and after November 1945, Jewish refugees were given their own section. The camp was the largest DP camp in Germany with 11,000 residents in 1946 and the only exclusively Jewish facility in the British sector.
The British authorities tried to rename the camp Hohne
Hohne
Hohne is a municipality in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany, east of the county town of Celle. It includes the three former parishes of Hohne, Helmerkamp and Spechtshorn...
to avoid the association with Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
at the concentration camp nearby, but the Holocaust survivors who were residents (Sh'erit ha-Pletah
Sh'erit ha-Pletah
Sh'erit ha-Pletah is a biblical term used by Jewish survivors of the Nazi Holocaust to refer to themselves and the communities they formed following their liberation in the spring of 1945....
) in the camp refused to accept the name change and persisted in calling the DP camp Bergen-Belsen.
The camp included a hospital, which after a time was renamed the Glynn Hughes Hospital after British Brigadier Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes
Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes
Brigadier Hugh Llewellyn Glyn Hughes CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MC, MRCS was a British military officer in the Royal Army Medical Corps and later medical administrator, educationalist and sports administrator...
, the first medical officer who entered Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
In 1946, the DP camp housed over 11,000 Jews. Though Bergen-Belsen was the only all-Jewish camp in the British zone of Germany, the camp's survivors struggled with the British before securing an exclusively Jewish community.
The leader of the survivors, Josef Rosensaft
Josef Rosensaft
Josef Rosensaft was a Holocaust survivor who led the community of Jewish displaced persons Josef Rosensaft (January 15, 1911 - September 11, 1975) was a Holocaust survivor who led the community of Jewish displaced persons Josef Rosensaft (January 15, 1911 - September 11, 1975) was a Holocaust...
organized the first Central Committee of Liberated Jews in the camp, an organization that grew to be the main organization of its kind in Europe. Under the stewardship of Rosensaft, Norbert Wollheim
Norbert Wollheim
Norbert Wollheim was a chartered accountant, tax advisor, previously a director of Central Council of the Jews in Germany and a functionary of Jewish organizations....
and Rafael Olewski, the Committee grew into an organization that lobbied the British on behalf of the DPs' political, social, and cultural aims, including the right to emigrate to British-controlled Palestine.
The refugees maintained active opposition to British restrictions on Jewish immigration to the British Mandate of Palestine, and until 1949 (well after the establishment of the State of Israel), British authorities did not allow free passage in and out of the camp. In 1946, administrative responsibility for the camp passed to the UNRRA, though British occupying forces maintained security around the camp. Nevertheless, the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
established secret training programmes on the camp grounds in December 1947.
For their part, the refugees organized a vibrant community within the camp. Schools were established within months of the liberation, and at one point there were 20 weddings every day in the camp. A newspaper known as Unzer Sztyme (Yiddish for "Our Voice") was initiated by Rafael Olewski and was edited by him and by his colleagues Paul Trepman and David Rosenthal; it published by the Culture & History committee of the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in the camp (headed by Olewski, Trepman & Rosenthal) and was the main Jewish newspaper in the British sector. The DPs founded an elementary school as early as July 1945, and by 1948, 340 pupils attended the school. A high school, which was staffed partly by soldiers from the Jewish Brigade
Jewish Brigade
The Jewish Infantry Brigade Group was a military formation of the British Army that served in Europe during the Second World War. The brigade was formed in late 1944, and its personnel fought the Germans in Italy...
(the Palestinian Jewish unit of the British Army) was established in December 1945. The DPs also provided education for the children of Bergen-Belsen. There was a kindergarten, an orphanage, and a yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
(a religious school). The Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT) vocational training schools organized occupational education.
By 1951, the camp was vacated, the majority of refugees having emigrated to the State of Israel.
External links
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Bergen-Belsen DP Camp
- British Policy Toward East European Refugees in Germany and Austria, 1945-1947, by Arieh J. Kochavi
- Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp exhibit at the Bergen-Belsen documentation centre, on the site of the concentration camp