Sobibor

Sobibór - darkometer rating : 9 - The site in eastern Poland of one of the three death camps of Operation Reinhard in 1942/43, the very deadliest phase of the entire Holocaust . Long a far too neglected memorial, it has in recent years seen a major archaeological research and refurbishment programme, and, most importantly, in late 2020, a proper state-of-the-art museum was finally opened at the site. The museum details the sinister crimes that were committed here and their historical context and also covers the revolt of 14 October 1943, which was also the subject of several books and two movies. > More background info > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > Photos More background info: Sobibór was the second of the three death camps of Operation Reinhard to be set up (the first was Bełżec , the third Treblinka ) and was operational from May 1942. Like with the other two such camps, the remote location was deliberately chosen. Deep in a large forest but next to a railway line (between Włodawa and Chełm). A railway spur branching off that line was constructed to take trains straight into the camp. Next to the railway spur and unloading ramp was the “ Vorlager ” (outside camp) with the living quarters for the SS staff including the commandant and the quarters for the camp guards, who were mostly Trawniki -trained Ukrainians. The “Vorlager” was designed like a rural Tyrolean village, looking peaceful and harmless – nothing indicated the sinister real purpose of the camp. Beyond that were Camp I and Camp II. The former was where a few hundred prisoners were held who had to work for the SS and were given various tasks in the camp’s upkeep and the processing of victims’ belongings – see below.