| Budzyń | |
|---|---|
| Nazi concentration camp | |
  Location of Budzyń within Poland Show map of Poland Budzyń concentration camp (Poland) Show map of Poland Budzyń concentration camp (Lublin Voivodeship) Show map of Lublin Voivodeship | |
| Coordinates | 50°57′N22°12′E / 50.95°N 22.2°E /50.95; 22.2 |
| Location | Kraśnik,General Government (German-occupied Poland) |
| Commandant |
|
| Original use | Forced labor |
| Operational | Spring 1942-June or July 1944 |
| Inmates | Jews |
| Number of inmates | 3,000 |
| Killed | Estimated dozens |
| Notable inmates | Max Glauben |
Budzyń concentration camp was aforced labor andconcentration camp built and operated by theSS ofNazi Germany between the Spring of 1942 and June/July 1944. It was located in the industrial district ofKraśnik,Poland, in theLublin District of theGeneral Government territory ofGerman-occupied Poland.[1] Budzyń began as a sub-camp of theMajdanek concentration camp, but became an independent concentration camp in October 1943 after the deportation of over 1,000 Jews after theWarsaw Ghetto Uprising.
At its peak, over 3,000 prisoners wereforced laborers at the camp, working in military factories such as theHeinkel aircraft factory, or conducting manual labor.
The first transports of Jews to the camp in Budzyń began in spring 1942. By the summer, there were 500 Jews from Kraśnik,Bełżyce,Janów Lubelski,Mińsk,Mohylów,Smoleńsk,Vienna, andSlovakia. By the summer of 1942, 500 Jews were brought to the camp from nearby towns. That fall, 400 prisoners of war arrived from theghettos inKońskowola andLublin, while 100 sick, elderly, and very young inmates were deported toBelzec extermination camp.
After the defeat of theWarsaw Ghetto Uprising, the Nazis deported more than 1,000 Jews from Warsaw to Budzyń. By mid-1943, there were 3,000 people imprisoned in the camp, including 300 women and children. In August 1943, 200 of the camp's prisoners were sent to Majdanek. On October 22, 1943 Budzyn was declared an independent concentration camp.
On February 8, 1944, dozens of prisoners were massacred by Ukrainian guards.[2]
Conditions in Budzyn were somewhat bearable, due to the efforts of the Nazi-appointed camp elder, Noah Stockman. In one case, some prisoners stole weapons from the military factories where they worked and escaped to the forest to join the Partisans. Stockman was able to convince the camp authorities not to retaliate against the Jews. On Passover 1944, Stockman managed to havematzah baked in the camp and hold aSeder for the Jewish holiday ofPassover. In July 1944, Budzyn was evacuated and the prisoners were sent to nearby camps atPłaszów andMauthausen.[2]
