SOBIBÓR - Holocaust Handbooks

J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR 155
Also, in a small camp such as Sobibór there would certainly be no need
for more than one smithy. An alternative interpretation of the function
of this building will be presented in chapter 9.1., p. 286.
5.4.2.2. Object B
This small building object is located in Hectare XXV, Ar 23 and 33.
It was unearthed by the diggings 2/01, 2a/01 and 2b/01. Kola writes: 462
“Object B is what is left of a small (possibly wooden) building,
completely demolished, with the floor level going up to 1.3m into the
sandy soil. The outline of the building at ground level had dimensions
of approx. 4.0 m × 3.5 m. At the bottom the outline was getting
smaller. It had dimensions of 3.5 × 3.2 m. The interpretation of the
relics of Object B is difficult.
The relic structures of the object (compressed and decayed organic
structures) lack elements that would help to identify the structure
or function of the building (bricks, nails, wooden boards, tar
paper). By looking at the layout of the relics of this object we can
assume that it was either a small barrack with a shallow basement
or a building with the characteristics of a semi-dugout dug into the
ground.
Among the relics of Object B, as opposed to those of building A,
numerous items belonging either to the victims or to the Jewish personnel
of Camp III were found. Most of the items were only fragmentarily
preserved and corroded, for example elements of glass
dishes, bottles and plastic soapboxes, food tins, remains of leather
shoes, bucket handles, and many unidentified iron items which were
highly corroded. Some of the items in better condition were taken
out for conservation to be placed in a future exhibition. There were
73 fragments of ladies’ combs, 12 fragments of hair clips, 46 elements
of spectacle frames, 19 spectacle lenses, 11 perfume bottles,
19 rifle shells (Mauser) and pistol shells, 3 Polish coins, a tooth
brush, 2 glass beads, 9 rubber endings from crutches or walking
sticks, 4 fragments of scissors, 2 padlock keys, trowels etc. 12 dentures
and fragments of flashlight batteries were also found.”
5.4.2.3. Object C
This object consists of the already mentioned remains of a water
well built of concrete. It is located in Hectare XXV, Ar 35, and was un-
462 A. Kola, op. cit. (note 300), p. 119.