Concentration Camps

Description of the medal
The Nazi extermination industry operated in many ways. Its most efficient and ghastly manifestations were concentration and death camps. In January 1942, at Wannsee near Berlin, Eichmann, Heydrich and other senior Nazi officials met to coordinate the "Final Solution" to the 'Jewish Problem," deciding upon the construction of death camps and murder by asphyxiation by Zyklon B poison gas in specially constructed chambers. Most of these camps were situated in Poland. Jews were deceptively welcomed to the sound of an orchestra. Numbers were tattooed on their arms, the healthy worked and those less fit were murdered. In the midst of even these infernal conditions, there were manifestations of solidarity, compassion and resistance among the inmates.

Obverse
Images of six children at Auschwitz, symbolizing the 6 million victims. Around the circumference, the words "in memory of the concentration and death camps 1942-1992" in Hebrew above and in English below.

Reverse
An electrified barbed wire fence, a watch tower against a background of shacks and rising smoke. The names of the six death camps: "TREBLINKA, CHELMNO, AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU, MAIDANEK, SOBIBOR, BELZEC" in Hebrew and Latin letters.

Edge
State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL' in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left and serial number. Bronze/tombac medal - "BRONZE" in Hebrew and English; Silver medal - "S 999" in Hebrew and English; gold medal - "G-750" in Hebrew and English.

Serialization
All medals are numbered.

Design
Obverse - Gabi Neumann. Reverse - Abraham Pat.

Engraving
Kretschmer.

Mint
Bronze/tombac - Kretschmer. Gold - The Government Mint.

Technical specifications of the medal