A good point Ned regarding the practical purpose. The camp was established in 1933, first of the main Konzentrationslagers. The trees were either already there and not cleared during the initial construction and establishment of the camp - due to the practical benefits you mentioned, or if they were planted later then they would never have grown fast enough to benefit the drainage system. Early period images do show trees present, so they were likely left in place to assist with the drainage.
Bookmarks