concentration camp
Other forms: concentration camps
A concentration camp is a large facility where people are imprisoned for political reasons, not because they've done anything wrong. During World War II, Nazi Germany held more than a million people in concentration camps.
People in concentration camps are treated cruelly, forced to do physically difficult work, and are frequently sick and malnourished. The Nazi party established more than 1,000 camps during World War II, imprisoning Jews and other groups of people. Millions of them died — some were deliberately killed, and others perished from the harsh conditions. Concentration camp comes from the idea of assembling or "concentrating" a targeted group in one place, where the government can more easily control them.
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a camp where prisoners or persecuted minorities are forcibly confined, usually under harsh conditionssynonyms: stockadeexamples:Auschwitza Nazi concentration camp for Jews in southwestern Poland during World War IIBelsena Nazi concentration camp for Jews created in northwestern Germany during World War IIBuchenwalda Nazi concentration camp for Jews in World War II that was located in central GermanyDachaua concentration camp for Jews created by the Nazis near Munich in southern Germanytypes:death campa concentration camp where prisoners are likely to die or be killedtype of:campa penal institution (often for forced labor)
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a situation characterized by crowding and extremely harsh conditions
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Vocabulary lists containing concentration camp
Learn about the conflict between the Allies and the Axis powers by studying these words related to World War II. This vocabulary list covers topics such as the rise of fascism and Nazism in Europe, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, appeasement and isolationism, and the use of the atomic bomb.
