The Treblinka Zoo

Early 1943 the camp commandant ordered to build a zoo besides the Ukrainian barracks. Here the SS men relaxed from their bloody work.
The main building was a wooden cave for foxes, covered with birch branches. Wire netting prevented the animals from escape. A dovecot was built on top of the zoo. Birch benches, chairs and tables were placed in the centre of the zoo area. The whole site was fenced in with a low birch fence. Flowers rounded up the surrealistic location.

ZOO PANORAMA The zoo was located amongst pine trees and birches. In the foreground the "Zoo Street" which went from the "Kurt Seidel Street" eastwards to the Ukrainian kitchen, the vegetable garden and the waste pit. Click on the photo for enlargement.

THE ZOO #1 Behind the zoo the relaxing area for SS men is visible. On the left and through the zoo building a part of the Ukrainian barracks is visible. Dovecot on top of the tar paper roof. At the left side of the building the door of the fox cave is visible. Click on the photo for enlargement.

THE ZOO #2 In the background three Ukrainian barracks and the benches, chairs and tables of the relaxing area are visible. One round bench encloses a pine tree. A ladder is leaning against the roof, so that the pigeons could have been fed. Click on the photo for enlargement.

BARRY AT THE ZOO Barry, Kurt Franz's St. Bernard, is loitering around at the zoo. On the right the fox cave, behind it another cave for captured forest animals. In the background (eastern direction) one can see the covered potatoe mound, and a part of the zoo area fence. Click on the photo for enlargement.

A TREBLINKA FOX One of approximately 4 foxes which were captured in the surrounding forest. Most probably the white wall cover has been created by a skilled unknown Jewish prisoner. Click on the photo for enlargement.

TREBLINKA FOXES The camp commandant Kurt Franz has taken at least five photos of his foxes. Click on the photo for enlargement.

© ARC 2005