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Unknown girl in Drancy

 Sleeping girl at Drancy concentration camp

'France, in the suburbs of Paris is hardly where one imagines a concentration camp or detainment center. But Drancy, the most well-known French camp was where first foreign Jews in France, and then the Jews of France were sent, including the Jewish of Lyons who were not killed by Klaus Barbie.

Most of the Jews detained in Drancy were soon sent to their deaths in Auschwitz and Sobibor. Only 3.5-4% of those who passed through Drancy survived the war. Estimates of 85,000-90,000 prisoners are given, including men, women and a significant number of children: all were kept together, which was highly unusual for the Lagers.

Until 1943, the camp, consisting of a large U-shaped Building Complex (formerly a police barracks) was guarded by the French arm of the Gestapo, however in July of that year, German soldiers took command. Not long after, 13,000 Jews including 4000 children were committed to Drancy. The conditions were harsh despite the suburban setting: few toilets, straw bedding, no windows and little food. The Poet Max Jacob was interred there, with other artists.

.... In the summer of 1942, the deportations by train to Auschwitz began where most of the Drancy prisoners, including children were killed by gassing.'

From the Shoa Education Project

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