Groß-Rosen sub-camps - 4 in 1 day

[CARL]

Earlier this week, following several delays due to the recent unpredictable central European weather, I embarked on a trip to the north of the Czech Republic to visit four former Gross-Rosen Aussenlager sites. The weather started out rather fine, and we set off in bright sunshine and a temperature of 27c. As the day went on, we encountered a thunderstorm, heavy rainfall, hailstorm - amid a drop to 14c, and eventual return to more sun and 26c. All in all, a rather eventful backdrop to what was an interesting trip. Now that the weather report is over, on with the sites...

First site - Aussenlager-Reichenau

Located approximately 10km southeast of Reichenberg (Liberec, Cz), the camp was created near to the workshops of GETEWENT in Reichenau (Rychnov u Jablonce nad Nisou, Cz) in spring 1944. Initially, the prisoners were housed in a two floor brick building located within the factory complex. Inmates worked producing and assembling radios and transmitters for armoured vehicles and aircraft. In addition, another Kommando (work group) repaired the damaged railway tracks nearby. Later, parts for radar, U-Boats and V-weapons were also produced at the site. A large, intact tunnel complex was also constructed by the prisoners, stretching beyond the borders of the concentration camp. Following the evacuation of KZ-Gross-Rosen in early February 1945, the administration of the former camp transferred to Reichenau, as did many of the former Gross-Rosen staff including Kommandant Johannes Hassebroeck and the infamous Josef Mengele, who had earlier fled from Auschwitz. Earlier, the camp had a staff of approximately 100 Ukrainian SS guards, led by Kommandoführer Braun. The first transport arrived in deep snow, with almost 200 prisoners being driven into their new accommodation by the overzealous guards. Later transports arrived from Auschwitz, Buchenwald and several other sub-camps. Hundreds of prisoners died due to abuse, poor rations, disease and exhaustion. The camp was evacuated in early May, with the SS staff managing to mingle with retreating Wehrmacht forces, leaving only a limited guard staff to watch over the remaining prisoners. Armed Czech patriots freed 381 emancipated prisoners on the 8th May, two days before the arrival of Soviet forces.

Images:

1) GETEWENT FABRIK - view of the former factory buildings.

2) Period perimeter fence posts, GETEWENT complex.

3) Tunnel entrance.

4) Memorial located at the factory site.

5) Memorial located at the site of the former Häftlingslager (prisoners camp).

[CARL]

6) Site of the prisoner dining barrack.

7) Remains of one of the prisoner barracks.

8) Location of the SS-Küche and Revier.

9) Site of former SS accommodation building.

10) The nearby railway station, as seen from the former SS area of Aussenlager-Reichenau.



More to follow...

[CARL]

Following a short drive from AL-Reichenau, we arrived at the next site.

2nd site - Aussenlager-Gablonz

Located within the industrial area of Reinowitz (Rýnovice, Cz), Gross-Rosen sub-camp Gablonz was established in November 1944. Prisoners produced and processed parts for aircraft and weapons for the Feinapparatenbau GmbH, a company owned by the Carl Zeiss Jena concern. Others repaired the nearby railway following allied bomb damage. Later, during the increasing allied air activity, the work was often interrupted, although even as late as 7th May 1945 attempts were made to continue production. The prisoners were held in a fortified stone structure - pictured below, which also housed a kitchen, store, washroom and areas for the SS guards. A nearby tunnel system planned by the Zeiss concern in 1941 and dug by Soviet POWs from a local labour camp, extends beyond the former camp boundary. In addition to the FAB facilities, a Waffen-SS Waffenfabrik was also located nearby. Late in 1944, a typhus epidemic killed many of the inmates although accurate figures are unavailable due to a lack of surviving records. Estimates tend to state around 800 prisoners went through the camp, comprising many Poles - including hundreds involved in the Warsaw uprising, Soviets, Germans and Czechs. The mortality rate was very high, with as many as 600 deaths. The camp was staffed by approximately 30 SS. Aussenlager-Gablonz was evacuated on 8th May 1945, with a column of prisoners leaving under SS guard. They later joined more prisoners from other sub-camps and were eventually freed when they were handed over to Red Cross officials and Czech partisans.

Images:

1) Former workshops of FAB. Note the prisoner's accommodation building in the background.

2) Another view of one of the FAB facilities - Waffen-SS weapons research and production facility just visible to the rear.

3) Workshops such as this one covered a large area operated by the FAB.

4) Waffen-SS Waffenfabrik facility, today a technical school.

5) One of the memorials near the site.

[CARL]

6) External view of the length of the former prisoner accommodation building.

7) The unseen flank - patent signs of the buildings former purpose are evident.

8) Length view looking along the building. Office for the Kommandoführer to the fore.

9) Appellplatz - now a small access road at the edge of the forest behind the facility.

10) Jüdischen Frauenlager (Jewish women's camp). The Jewish women were located nearby in a separate building, probably this structure.

[harryamb2]

again many thanks T88.

[Adrian Stevenson]

As ever, interesting and informative!

[CARL]

Thank you kindly gents. Will add the next site later.

Regards,

Carl

[sandgroper]

How did I miss this thread? As always, a fascinating, disturbing and informative thread, thanks Carl.

[CARL]

Time to move on to the third site of the day, the first of the two Kratzau camps located in or near the town of Chrastava. When we arrived we parked near the train station - just a short walk from the main factory site where the concentration camp prisoners worked.

3rd site - Aussenlager-Kratzau-I

The town of Chrastava, northwest of Reichenberg (Liberec, Cz), was host to two FALs (frauen-Arbeitslagers) during the latter stages of the war. This pair of lesser known women's work camps saw well over a thousand prisoners despite only being operational for short periods of time. Kratzau-I, the first site, was established during October 1944 and included former Gross-Rosen staff. According to survivors, the infamous Josef Mengele arrived shortly after the camp opened, returning at least two further times to perform selections. The twisted doctor reportedly continued his "work" at Kratzau - including the administration of poison to pregnant women at the camp. Transports of women from Auschwitz, including Jewish Poles, Czechs, French, Belgians and Dutch, were sent to work alongside forced labour workers at the large SPREEWERK complex nearby, which produced anti-aircraft ammunition. Although no documentation records the statistics, survivors stated that the mortality rate at Kratzau-I was very high. In early May 1945, the camp was liberated by Soviet forces.

Images: (note, the site was identified by a Czech scholar, although other sources fail to recognise its location)

1) SPREEWERK, the large factory complex located near to the camp. According to another source, possible site of prisoner accommodation.

2) "Barrackenstadt", the large accommodation area for some of the forced labour workers, who served in the nearby workshops.

3) Kratzau-I. View from the entrance area toward the original kitchen and store structures.

4) Eingang. The former entrance area - view looking out of the camp toward the camp road.

5) Appellplatz. The construction project currently underway will patently change the appearance of the site forever.

[CARL]

6) Küche. Interior of the camp kitchen.

7) Häftlingsunterkunft - the site of the former prisoner accommodation barrack and dining room.

8) Location of the former camp latrines.

9) To the rear of the camp, the remains of the former Waschraum - the wall just visible behind the crane.

10) SS-Unterkunft - the accommodation area of the camp staff. Two wooden barracks once stood here. The area to the left was designated as a possible extension area although the expansion never took place.