Location:

Eastern Poland, 37.5 miles from Łódź, Poland’s second largest city

Original use:

Manorial estate

Operational:

December 1941 – July 1944

Operated by:

German Schutzstaffel (SS)

Commandants:

SS Hauptsturmführer Herbert Lange
(September 1939 – February 1942)

SS Hauptsturmführer Hans Bothmann
(March 1942 – April 1943)

SS Untersturmführer Walter Filer - deputy to Bothmann

SS Untersturmführer Alois Häfele - oversaw all activities

SS Hauptscharführer Albert Richter - division commander

SS Hauptscharführer Wilhelm Lenz - chief woods commando

SS Hauptscharführer Johann Runge - oversaw the crematoria operations

SS Unterscharführer Erich Kretschmer - deputy to Runge

SS Hauptscharführer Erwin Burstinger – in charge of keeping the gas vans fueled

SS Hauptscharführer Gustav Laabs - driver of the gas vans

SS Hauptscharführer Herman Gilow - driver of the gas vans

SS Unterscharführer Walter Burmeister - driver of the gas vans

SS Rottenführer Wilhelm Gürlich - deputy to Burmeister

Estimated deaths:

At least 153,000; mainly Poles and Jews from the Łódź ghetto and the surrounding area, along with Gypsies from Greater Poland and some Hungarian Jews, Czechs and Soviet prisoners of war

Liberated:

Camp destroyed and evacuated by Nazis in July 1944 as the Soviet Army approached; remaining prisoners transported to Auschwitz