Abstract

ABSTRACT The Nazis’ killing center at Bełżec (1941–1944) poses a fundamental challenge to Holocaust scholars. How can we write the history of a place that has been obliterated and whose records have been destroyed? Twelve untapped non-Jewish video testimonies provide new insights into aspects of daily life around Bełżec. This essay argues that strong social ties dictated who lived and died in the shadow of the gas chambers. The least well-known killing center radicalized social relations in the village, inflected by class, age, and gender. Ultimately, this essay seeks to pave the way for a more systematic approach to the much-debated notion of “social dynamics,” and encourages Holocaust scholars to tackle more directly non-Jewish testimonies.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.