Sobibor - Lager II and the modern roadway leading to the 'Road to Heaven and Lager III

Lager II  included the railway platform, where the victims were taken off the trains, as well as barracks where vital services for both the killing process and the everyday operation of the camp were carried out by Jewish Sonderkommando. Lager II also contained the warehouses used for storing the items taken from the victims, including clothes, food articles, cut-off hair, gold, and all other valuables. This section also housed the main administration office.

At Lager II the Jews were prepared for their death. Here they undressed, women's hair was shaved, clothing was searched and sorted, and documents were destroyed in the nearby furnace. The victims' final steps were taken on a path surrounded by barbed wire. It was called the "Road to Heaven", or der Schlauch (the hose) and led directly to the gas chambers in Lager III.

The location of Lager II using features that exist today:

Opposite the railway buffer on the opposite side of the road is the 'modern' main entrance which leads via the modern access road to the Polish monument. Looking into the camp area from the ramp (in front of the railway buffer) or to the left while walking up the modern road towards the Monument is the rough location of Lager II.

No. 11




Rough location of Lager II, taken
from the ramp

Information boards situated near the
entrance. Behind the boards is the rough
location of Lager II

 

Estimated location of Lager II,
to the left of the modern access road,
including the location of the original
main entrance for victims.

The Road to Heaven originated from within Lager II. The modern interpretation of the Road to Heaven branches to the left from the modern access road and is where we head next.