This is what some Historians believe the Nazi Government told their people.
A very controversial and heavily documented topic of debate is the question: did six million Jewish people really die in the holocaust? Some sources state that in the 1970s the number of people who died in the holocaust was four million and has risen to six million since. For this investigation the question is: were concentration camps as brutal as portrayed, did the SS soldiers really murder the prisoners or were these deaths due to natural causes or not. Holocaust denier's demand some proof that Hitler gave the order for the extermination of the Jews - they believe that the Holocaust never even happened. .
Findings .
In 1933 when Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany almost immediately he set up Concentration camps. The first camps were makeshift prisons in disused factories and warehouses. Then gradually they became built for the purpose of detaining the political opposition to Hitler's Nazi party. The camps were usually situated in isolated rural areas and were run by SS Death's Head Units . These camps were designed to break that opposition and induce fear among the population in order to ensure that new opposition would not arise. The first Concentration camp was established at Dachau on March 23, 1933. Dachau became the training ground for the SS. Then more camps were established such as Buchenwald, Bergen Belsen, Neuengamme, Ravensbrueck and Sachsenhausen. .
Living conditions in concentration camps became worse over the years they operated. Prisoners were anyone who opposed Hitler's totalitarian regime. After prisoners were arrested, they were immediately subjected to severe treatment. Prisoners upon arrival were led to register and have their picture taken, then have a shower. They were then shaved and given prisoner's uniforms. Badges were sewn stating the "reason for arrest" , their nationality and number.
