Camps
A brief description of the camps of the Third Reich and Fascist Italy where prisoners from Magnesia were held between 1941 and 1945, and for which information has been found. The camps are divided into four categories:
- Prisoner-of-war camps
- Concentration/labor camps
- Concentration and extermination camps
- Camps in fascist Italy
B
Bad Bentheim and Gildehaus
Subcamp of: Neuengamme
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Two small communities near the Dutch border, south of Nordhorn, in the Emsland region. In the fall of 1944, some Greek prisoners-of-war were sent there for forced-labour from STALAG VI C POW camp (Bathorn).
Greek State Archives, Magnesia branch, Archive “Nazism Court Rulings”, no. 487/28-2-1962, 357/31-1-1962, 656/31-3-1962.
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Two small communities near the Dutch border, south of Nordhorn, in the Emsland region. In the fall of 1944, some Greek prisoners-of-war were sent there for forced-labour from STALAG VI C POW camp (Bathorn).
Greek State Archives, Magnesia branch, Archive “Nazism Court Rulings”, no. 487/28-2-1962, 357/31-1-1962, 656/31-3-1962.
Bari
Category: POW camps in fascist Italy
Camp No. 75, a large camp for prisoners-of-war, in the Torre Tresca neighbourhood of Bari (southern Italy). Some Greek POWs were held there, including boatmen from the Sporades islands (Magnesia) who had assisted Allied soldiers to escape to the Middle East. After liberation, Camp no. 75 served as a displaced persons (D.P.) camp for survivors of Nazi camps awaiting repatriation.
Camp No. 75, a large camp for prisoners-of-war, in the Torre Tresca neighbourhood of Bari (southern Italy). Some Greek POWs were held there, including boatmen from the Sporades islands (Magnesia) who had assisted Allied soldiers to escape to the Middle East. After liberation, Camp no. 75 served as a displaced persons (D.P.) camp for survivors of Nazi camps awaiting repatriation.
Bathorn (STALAG VI-C)
Category: POW camp
A large prisoner-of-war camp near the German-Dutch border. From the early days of the war, it held mainly Soviet, French, and Polish prisoners. In August 1944, a group of at least 500 Greeks arrived, including many from Magnesia, who were then transferred successively to various labour camps in northwestern Germany, finally ending up at the Essen camp.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. IV (2022), 429–431.
A large prisoner-of-war camp near the German-Dutch border. From the early days of the war, it held mainly Soviet, French, and Polish prisoners. In August 1944, a group of at least 500 Greeks arrived, including many from Magnesia, who were then transferred successively to various labour camps in northwestern Germany, finally ending up at the Essen camp.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. IV (2022), 429–431.
Bergen-Belsen
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Established in the spring of 1943 for Jews who were spared from extermination, with the aim of exchanging them for German prisoners in other European countries. Finally, only a few Jews were exchanged, and from the spring of 1944, other prisoners (non-Jews) were also deported there. Toward the end of the war, the camp was converted into a reception center for survivors of death marches from other camps located further east. The camp population more than doubled from 15,000 in December 1944 to 41,250 in March 1945. Due to overcrowding, starvation, and disease, mortality was particularly high (the total number of deaths is estimated at 37,000).
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I A (2009), 278–281.
Established in the spring of 1943 for Jews who were spared from extermination, with the aim of exchanging them for German prisoners in other European countries. Finally, only a few Jews were exchanged, and from the spring of 1944, other prisoners (non-Jews) were also deported there. Toward the end of the war, the camp was converted into a reception center for survivors of death marches from other camps located further east. The camp population more than doubled from 15,000 in December 1944 to 41,250 in March 1945. Due to overcrowding, starvation, and disease, mortality was particularly high (the total number of deaths is estimated at 37,000).
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I A (2009), 278–281.
Berlin Köpenick
Subcamp of: Sachsenhausen
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Established in late September 1944 in Köpenick, a neighbourhood located in the Oberspree industrial zone of Berlin. Approximately 680 female prisoners were forced to work in the AEG Kabelwerk factory that manufactured cables. The majority were Polish; the other nationalities included Russian, French, Greek, and Italian women. Between September 28 and October 9, 1944, 700 female prisoners were relocated there from Ravensbrück. The camp was located on the opposite bank of the Spree River, and the prisoners were brought to the factory every day by riverboat. On April 19 and 20, 1945, prisoners were transferred to the Oranienburg prison camp and from there they were sent on a death march toward the Baltic Sea. On May 3, 1945, they were liberated by American and Soviet troops near Berlin.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I Β (2009), 1271-1272.
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Established in late September 1944 in Köpenick, a neighbourhood located in the Oberspree industrial zone of Berlin. Approximately 680 female prisoners were forced to work in the AEG Kabelwerk factory that manufactured cables. The majority were Polish; the other nationalities included Russian, French, Greek, and Italian women. Between September 28 and October 9, 1944, 700 female prisoners were relocated there from Ravensbrück. The camp was located on the opposite bank of the Spree River, and the prisoners were brought to the factory every day by riverboat. On April 19 and 20, 1945, prisoners were transferred to the Oranienburg prison camp and from there they were sent on a death march toward the Baltic Sea. On May 3, 1945, they were liberated by American and Soviet troops near Berlin.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I Β (2009), 1271-1272.
Braunschweig
Subcamp of: Neuengamme
Category: Concentration/labour camp
This subcamp was established in August 1944 at the request of the truck manufacturer Büssing-NAG. 800 prisoners worked there, 300 of whom died from starvation, disease, and mistreatment. Another camp in the same city housed a factory manufacturing ammunition casings, which also employed Greek forced-labourers.
Category: Concentration/labour camp
This subcamp was established in August 1944 at the request of the truck manufacturer Büssing-NAG. 800 prisoners worked there, 300 of whom died from starvation, disease, and mistreatment. Another camp in the same city housed a factory manufacturing ammunition casings, which also employed Greek forced-labourers.
Buchenwald
Category Concentration/labour camp
One of the early concentration camps, established in 1937 outside Weimar. It was originally designed to hold 8,000 prisoners, mainly German political prisoners. Later it also included a crematorium and a brothel. By the end of the war, there were 48,000 prisoners, of whom 28,000 were evacuated and marched to their deaths. The camp was liberated by the Americans on April 11, 1945. A total of 239,000 prisoners passed through the camp, of whom 56,000 died.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I A (2009), 290-294.
One of the early concentration camps, established in 1937 outside Weimar. It was originally designed to hold 8,000 prisoners, mainly German political prisoners. Later it also included a crematorium and a brothel. By the end of the war, there were 48,000 prisoners, of whom 28,000 were evacuated and marched to their deaths. The camp was liberated by the Americans on April 11, 1945. A total of 239,000 prisoners passed through the camp, of whom 56,000 died.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I A (2009), 290-294.