KL-Floßenbürg

[CARL]

LAGERZAUN (Camp fencing):

1-2. Near the Krematoria facility, sections of original fencing are still present.

[CARL]

WACHTURM (watchtower):

Several of the original stone watchtower structures remain, located near the Krematoria facility (1), on the hillside behind the former tool shop site (2), and adjoined to the chapel near the location of the former isolation blocks (3).

1. Southeastern section of the camp: A Wachturm stands over the Krematoria site.

2. Northern section: Another watchtower, located on the hillside behind the former tool shop site.

3. Finally, the third original guard tower stands near the site of the former isolation blocks, adjoined to the chapel which was constructed using stone from some of the dismantled watchtowers.

[CARL]

THE RAMP:

When the camp was liberated, US forces found an unusual opening to a tunnel. Upon further inspection, they realised that they had discovered the method of transportation used for moving the corpses down to the Krematorium facility from the Häftlingslager (Prisoner's Camp). This ramp, nowadays covered with grass, originally had a pair of tracks for a small cart to run along, transferring the bodies from a location near the isolation blocks, down to the Krematorium below. A large pile of shoes, taken from the deceased prisoners were also found next to the ramp when the camp was finally abandoned by the SS.

1. Tunnel entrance.

2. The ramp as seen from below. Note the bricked-up exit, altered post war.

[CARL]

THE RAMP AND ORIGINAL GATEPOSTS:

A side on view of the ramp, nearby Wachturm (watchtower) and tunnel entrance (beneath the fenced section, upper right of picture). To the foot of the attachment, a memorial marker can be seen. This is one of the commemorative stones laid to mark the Jewish victims at Flossenbürg, and was placed at the spot were the large pile of former inmates' shoes was found during the liberation of the KL.

Just visible in the lower left hand corner of the photograph, are the original gateposts. They were relocated post war when a large redevelopment project saw the site covered with numerous factory and enterprise structures, many of which hid or covered former camp structures. For many years, historians referred to Flossenbürg as "The Forgotten Camp", a name that was used due to the lack of visitors and the condition of the site. Despite the fact that KL-Flossenbürg was actually the fourth largest Konzentrationslager within Nazi Germany, it remained largely unknown. It wasn't until the 1990's that major redevelopment was undertaken.

[CARL]

KREMATORIUM:

1. External view of the Krematoria facility, taken from the steps leading to the building.

2. Close up view of the chimney, taken at roof level.

3. View from the edge of the camp, looking down on the facility and showing the entrance.

4. The oven.

5. View into the autopsy room, with the dissection table visible.

[CARL]

MEMORIALS:

1. Former site of Block 18, now marked with a granite commemorative stone.

2. Jewish memorial building.

3. A view along the "Valley of Death", taken near the Krematoria facility. The "Valley of Death" memorial way consists of the "Square of Nations", Execution Site Memorial, "Pyramid of Ashes" and Chapel of "Jesus in the Dungeon".

[CARL]

MEMORIALS:

1. The "Pyramid of Ashes".

2. A view taken near the Chapel of Jesus in the Dungeon. Looking down the Valley of Death, first we see the Square of Nations, with commemorative markers for the various nationalities that perished at KL-Flossenbürg. Next is the Pyramid of Ashes, then the execution site memorial, with large Winkel commemorative marker. The Krematorium can also be seen toward the far end of the image.

[CARL]

MEMORIALS:

1. A closer view of the execution site memorial. Note the Winkel commemorative marker.

2. The memorial park area, located on the site of the former disinfection building.

3. A further view across the garden area, over the former isolation barracks site, toward the Chapel of Jesus in the Dungeon. The chapel was constructed of stone taken from some of the original watchtowers. One of the three surviving watchtowers can be seen beside the chapel. The Jewish memorial building is also visible, further left.

[CARL]

A link to a thread concerning the various memorials present at Gedenkstätte-Flossenbürg can be viewed here:

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/after-...orials-257712/

[CARL]

DEST:

As with other Konzentrationslagers within the system, such as KL-Gross-Rosen and KL-Natzweiler,KL-Flossenbürg was directly connected to a stone quarry, exploited by the DEST concern (Deutsche Erd-und Steinwerke GmbH / German Earth and Stone Works Company). At Flossenbürg, the DEST administration buildings were located near to the main camp, just a short walk from the Kommandantur.

1-4. Main premises of the DEST management at Flossenbürg.