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80 Years Ago, the Nazis Pioneered "Industrial Murder" at Chelmno
(Times of Israel) Matt Lebovic - In the Polish village of Chelmno, outside Lodz, the German SS pioneered methods of mass murder on an industrial scale later deployed at other death camps. Initially, the Germans played elaborate games to deceive victims and bystanders. For many months, most Jews believed the deportees were headed for labor camps and resettlement. Only after the Germans demanded the Lodz ghetto Jewish council hand over thousands of children for deportation did most Jews realize "resettlement" meant death. At Chelmno, up to 50 victims were packed inside custom-rigged "mobile killing vans," with vehicle exhaust funneled into the sealed compartment. At least 172,000 Jews were murdered at Chelmno.