70th Anniversary of the Liberation of KZ-Groß-Rosen

[CARL]

Groß-Rosen, the stone hell that was the site of much suffering from its initial establishment as a subcamp of KZ-Sachsenhausen in 1940, to the eventual liberation by Soviet troops some five years later, today marks the 70th anniversary of its liberation. The SS began the evacuation of the eastern Groß-Rosen satellite camps during January 1945, with the dereliction of the Stammlager (main camp) coming in early February. Subsequently, further subcamps were abandoned causing at least 44,000 prisoners to be escorted under SS guard to camps further from the approaching Soviets such as Mauthausen, Mittelbau-Dora, Neuengamme, Dachau, Buchenwald, Bergen-Belsen and Floßenbürg. Those who were too weak to continue were killed by the SS. With little to nothing being provided in the way of food and water, the casualties were high. Soviet forces eventually reached the site on February 13th 1945. Estimates suggest a minimum of, 40,000 people died within the Groß-Rosen system, or during the evacuations.

[harryamb2]

thank you Carl,good to remember.

[Fischthh]

Thank you, Carl. What does the monument with the cross say? Is there a similar monument with a Jewish star?

[CARL]

Thank you, Carl. What does the monument with the cross say? Is there a similar monument with a Jewish star?

The inscription below the cross, in Polish, states that the monument was erected on 13.6.1999, in addition to other wording I cannot make out. There is a Star of David present below the "Dead Tree", as it is often called - the memorial site visible in the image above. Below is another memorial marker at the camp (there are many), featuring the words "Mausoleum of prisoners of all European countries who were murdered by the Nazi barbarians. It was raised by the state of Poland in 1953"

[CARL]

Today, Saturday 13th February 2016, marks another anniversary of the liberation of Groß-Rosen.

Please take a moment to remember those who suffered within the Groß-Rosen camp system.

[FALLSCHIRMJAGER]

Thank you Carl for reminding us all about these anniversary's. I myself found this camp to be a real "test" of understanding the in humanity of man on our tour there. An impossibly harsh environment to be forced to work in, and if I recall correctly, you said something along the lines that the camp commandant "welcomed" the new victims with the statement that they would be dead within a month through hard labour in the quarry. If they were not dead by that time, they would be shot as they were clearly stealing food! Truly an evil KL within the system. Leon.

[CARL]

Memory serves you well Leon...Groß-Rosen was an extremely harsh camp, those who suffered did so amid horrific conditions.

For our tour, I chose the Groß-Rosen site as the focal point for my explanation of how a typical Konzentrationslager was established, with emphasis on how they developed and patently, functioned. Although the camp receives only a fraction of the attention some of the other major camps do, it should not and cannot ever be forgotten.

Thank you, as ever.

Carl

[CARL]

Another year passes with the anniversary of the liberation of the main camp at Groß-Rosen being marked earlier this week.

The camp will be addressed in detail later this year, during our spring study tour. Some of you have already visited the site with us but for those yet to do so but coming along this time, it will be the major point of what looks to be a very busy trip this time.

[CARL]

zapamiętać…

(remember)

[CARL]

And another year passes…

Today, February 13th 2020, marks the 75th anniversary since the camp at Groß-Rosen was liberated.

Visitor information in the link below:

Muzeum Gross-Rosen w Rogoźnicy