The Gusen Camps
Within the Mauthausen camp system, the Gusen camps were among the largest and of patent notability. Gusen-I construction began as early as December 1939, with eventual establishment coming the following spring. The main sub-camp at Gusen added two further satellites during 1944 - a year which saw countless satellite camps and external work details established throughout the entire KZ system. The two new camps were called Gusen-II and Gusen-III.
Gusen-III, often regarded as a depot-camp, held approximately 260 inmates who worked in a Messerschmitt materials depot in addition to work detail at a brick manufacturing facility - the entire Mauthausen-Gusen camp system was directly associated with the massive stone quarry network located within the area. The camp opened toward the end of 1944, closing during the spring of 1945 when the Mauthausen-Gusen camps were liberated by US forces.
Gusen-II
Gusen-II was a much larger concern than Gusen-III, with some 10,000 or so prisoners working within the Messerschmitt and Steyr-Daimler-Puck plants. Located on the St.Georgen Road, it was operational from early spring 1944. Again, it existed until discovered in the spring of 1945.
Gusen-II Today
Very little remains extent today - unless one is willing and able to study the former site prior to a visit to the area, nothing would be seen at all. The only remains clearly visible today are of a former SS shelter that stood toward one end of the external boundary of the Gusen-II camp.
Images:
1) Modern dwellings now stand on the grounds of the former barracks camp at Gusen-II.
2) The remains of the SS shelter.
3) A plan of the former camp, Gusen-II. The plan was created using a period overhead image taken by allied reconnaissance aircraft for reference - the Gusen camps and their surroundings were the focus of numerous such study flights yet never became a target for allied bombing raids.
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