Concentration Camps vs. Death Camps
Concentration camps were mainly focused on containing Jews, Gypsies, Political dissident, homosexuals, and other groups that were view as "different" in the Nazi's eye's. There were many different types of concentration camps; "ordinary" concentration camps, forced labor camps, work- reformatory camps, POW camps, and transit camps. There were at least 22 main camps distributed all over Germany and Europe, more than 1,200 affiliate camps, and tens of thousands of smaller camps.
Death Camps are also known as extermination camps, only had one purpose, to kill off all Jews. There were 2 groups of death camps, the "pure" extermination camps and the combined extermination and concentration camps. "Pure" extermination camps were used to mainly kill Jews. Combined camps had organized mass murder of the Jews in gas chambers, and also had forced labor. Every 1 in 4 Jews were selected for forced labor, the rest were gassed to death immediately upon arrival.
Similarities
The living conditions were terrible and cruel for inmates at the camps. There was a short supply of food, usually poor conditions and deaths occurred due to this mainly in the labor camps.
Death Camps are also known as extermination camps, only had one purpose, to kill off all Jews. There were 2 groups of death camps, the "pure" extermination camps and the combined extermination and concentration camps. "Pure" extermination camps were used to mainly kill Jews. Combined camps had organized mass murder of the Jews in gas chambers, and also had forced labor. Every 1 in 4 Jews were selected for forced labor, the rest were gassed to death immediately upon arrival.
Similarities
The living conditions were terrible and cruel for inmates at the camps. There was a short supply of food, usually poor conditions and deaths occurred due to this mainly in the labor camps.