BELZEC EXTERMINATION CAMP, Belzec death camp execution victim. Members of the Sonderkommandos (special detachments) worked in the killing area. Sonderkommandos were groups of Jewish prisoners selected to remain alive as forced laborers. They removed bodies from the gas chambers and buried the victims in mass graves. Other prisoners, who were selected for temporary survival, worked in the administration-reception area. They facilitated detraining, disrobing, relinquishment of valuables, and movement of the Jewish prisoners into the “tube.” They also sorted the possessions of the murdered victims in preparation for transport to Germany. In addition, these prisoners were respo nsible for cleaning out freight cars for the next deportation. German SS and police personnel and the Trawniki-trained guards periodically murdered the members of these detachments of Jewish laborers. Those murdered were then replaced with people selected from newly arriving transport. In Octo...