Large numbers of non-Jewish Poles were also imprisoned in these camps, as were various prisoners from other countries.
Why did so many non-Jewish Poles ferret away pictures of Jews?
According to memoirs from the period, the choice often came down to whether a particular person "looked Aryan" and could pass for a non-Jewish Pole.
A significant number of non-Jewish Poles also did not trust the Germans and decided not to leave the city.
Thereafter, Jews were required to remain inside the camp at all times, although non-Jewish Poles could continue to work.
Trzcińska's estimate however place the number of the camp's victims well above 212,000, mostly non-Jewish Poles.
As a result, the displaced non-Jewish Poles and members of other ethnic groups were ordered to take up residence elsewhere.
Indeed, thousands of non-Jewish Poles died in them.