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
N
Natzweiler-Struthof
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Concentration camp established in 1941 in Alsace, which had been annexed by the Third Reich, initially for the purpose of quarrying pink granite and later to serve the war industry. Medical experiments were conducted at this camp, and it operated a crematorium. A total of 52,000 deportees from 30 countries were held there, of whom 17,000 perished.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I B (2009), 1004–1007.
Concentration camp established in 1941 in Alsace, which had been annexed by the Third Reich, initially for the purpose of quarrying pink granite and later to serve the war industry. Medical experiments were conducted at this camp, and it operated a crematorium. A total of 52,000 deportees from 30 countries were held there, of whom 17,000 perished.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I B (2009), 1004–1007.
Neuengamme
Category: Concentration/labour camp
Built in 1937 as a subcamp of Sachsenhausen. It became an independent concentration camp in 1940 and gradually evolved to become the main camp for northwestern Germany. In 1945, there were 104,000 prisoners in the main camp and its many (over 75) subcamps, of whom 13,500 were women. On April 19, 1945, the camp was evacuated and the prisoners were transferred to ships laying in the Bay of Lübeck. On May 3, 1945, a few days before liberation, these ships were accidentally bombed by the British Air Force. Over 7,000 prisoners drowned (see also Neustadt in Holstein).
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I B (2009), 1074–1078.
Built in 1937 as a subcamp of Sachsenhausen. It became an independent concentration camp in 1940 and gradually evolved to become the main camp for northwestern Germany. In 1945, there were 104,000 prisoners in the main camp and its many (over 75) subcamps, of whom 13,500 were women. On April 19, 1945, the camp was evacuated and the prisoners were transferred to ships laying in the Bay of Lübeck. On May 3, 1945, a few days before liberation, these ships were accidentally bombed by the British Air Force. Over 7,000 prisoners drowned (see also Neustadt in Holstein).
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I B (2009), 1074–1078.
Neustadt in Holstein
Subcamp of: Neuengamme
Category: Concentration/labour camp
A small town on the Bay of Lübeck, northeast of Hamburg. In late April 1945, the SS transported 10,000 prisoners from Neuengamme concentration camp to four ships in the Bay of Lübeck. On May 3, 1945, hours before liberation, the British Air Force bombed two of them, believing they were full of German soldiers. Approximately 7,000 prisoners drowned or were subsequently killed by the SS. Among the victims were three men from Volos. Another man from Volos, Stavros Tzoumertis, survived because he was on a ship that was not bombed.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I B (2009), 1165. For Tzoumerti’s testimony, see the newspaper Tachydromos, April 15, 1965.
Category: Concentration/labour camp
A small town on the Bay of Lübeck, northeast of Hamburg. In late April 1945, the SS transported 10,000 prisoners from Neuengamme concentration camp to four ships in the Bay of Lübeck. On May 3, 1945, hours before liberation, the British Air Force bombed two of them, believing they were full of German soldiers. Approximately 7,000 prisoners drowned or were subsequently killed by the SS. Among the victims were three men from Volos. Another man from Volos, Stavros Tzoumertis, survived because he was on a ship that was not bombed.
USHMΜ, Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, vol. I B (2009), 1165. For Tzoumerti’s testimony, see the newspaper Tachydromos, April 15, 1965.