Prisoners of War Camp (P.O.W.'s)
The start of the Bergen-Belsen Camp was in 1935, the construction was finished in 1937. The camp originally a Army construction camp until 1939 when it became a place to house prisoners of war. The camp quickly grew in population and therefore death rate increased. High number of deaths at Bergen-Belsen was common due to disease, starvation, and exhaustion.
Concentration Camp
In 1943 the camp was officially considered a concentration camp. However, this camp was unique because important prisoners would get held hostage in order to exchange with German citizens that had been captured. Bergen-Belsen Camp was very well known for the high death polls due to starvation, disease, exhaustion, and lack of any medical attention. Their was about 500 prisoners a day dying. Although the total death count is unknown many civilians died throughout the camp. The camp was officially liberated in 1945, when some prisoners were allowed to go free.