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Scorched Earth The term "concentration camp" is most associated with Nazi Germany and the systematic killing of Jews during World War II. But colonial powers used concentration camps at the turn of the 19th century to crush rebellions. In this episode, how a war between Britain and South African Boers gave rise to some of the first camps.
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Scorched Earth

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Scorched Earth

Throughline

Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth

Listen · 31:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/749043160/749270521" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
  • Boer families leaving a concentration camp, 1901.
    Boer families leaving a concentration camp, 1901.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images
  • The First Welsh Regiment making camp during the Boer War, 1900.
    The First Welsh Regiment making camp during the Boer War, 1900.
    Reinhold Thiele/Getty Images
  • Boer prisoners in a camp at Bloemfontein during the Second Boer War, 1899-1902.
    Boer prisoners in a camp at Bloemfontein during the Second Boer War, 1899-1902.
    Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images
  • Black soldiers line up for a group picture taken during the Boer War in the town of Mafeking, South Africa. During the Boer War, the British also had black concentration camps where it's estimated that at least 20,000 to 25,000 died.
    Black soldiers line up for a group picture taken during the Boer War in the town of Mafeking, South Africa. During the Boer War, the British also had black concentration camps where it's estimated that at least 20,000 to 25,000 died.
    AP Photo

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The term "concentration camp" is most associated with Nazi Germany and the systematic killing of Jews during World War II. But colonial powers used concentration camps at the turn of the 19th century to crush rebellions. In this episode, how a war between Britain and South African Boers gave rise to some of the first camps.

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