SOBIBÓR - Holocaust Handbooks

158 J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR
pits of an unclear use were encountered, 30-60 cm deep into the
archeologically barren sand. The outlines of these were oval in
shape – with diameters ranging from 50 cm (no. 5) to 110 cm (no. 1)
and a maximum plunge into the archeologically barren sand of up to
around 60 cm (no. 3) – cf. the plan of Object E. [465] In the relic structures
of the smaller barrack (in the northwestern part of Object E)
two massive, 210 cm long wooden beams were discovered, resting
horizontally on 90 cm thick sandy soil. They had holes (of 5-6 cm diameter)
placed regularly all the way along the top, a few of which
still had pegs in them. These beams originating from the barrack’s
construction have probably been moved here during the disassembling
of the building. Next to these beams the archeologists came
across two structural beams of the barrack (no. 7 and 8) entrenched
about 40 cm into the sand.
Many objects doubtlessly belonging to the victims or the personnel
of Camp III were found among the remains of Object E. These
objects were found immediately underneath the layer of humus and
appeared on the entire site of Object E. They were: hairclips and
hair combs, under- and outerwear buttons, spectacle frames and
cases, spoons, forks and kitchen knives, scissors, belt buckles, belt
clasps and attachments, gas lighters, metal boxes, fragments of electric
razors and razorblades, casings and mechanisms from watches,
cuff clips, medicine bottles and packages, mirror relics, pocketknives
etc. It is worth noting that in the central part of the smaller barrack
in Object E, on a plot of land of only between ten and twenty meters’
area, a large number (around 1,830 units) of Mauser and Mosin-
Nagant rifle bullets was found, shot into the ground and hence deformed.
Pistol shells (9), Mosin-Nagant rifle shells (3) and a pistol
bullet. It thus seems likely that sick and worn-out prisoners were
shot here while lying down.
In the light of the above finds the following question comes to
mind: What could have been the function of such a spacious barrack?
In its northern appendix (the smaller barrack) doubtlessly
prisoners’ lives were ended by shooting. The considerable number of
bullets accumulated in such a small area indicates that the prisoners
were shot lying down, otherwise (in case of horizontal shooting) the
bullets would have been dispersed. However it is commonly known
465 Despite being referred to by Kola, the plan in question is not included in his article.