Subcamps,[a] officially Arbeitslager der Waffen-SS, were outlying detention centres (Haftstätten) that came under the command of a main concentration camps run by the SS in Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe. The Nazis distinguished between the main camps (or Stammlager) and the subcamps (Außenlager or Außenkommandos) subordinated to them. Survival conditions in the subcamps were, in many cases, poorer for the prisoners than those in the main camps.[5][6][2]
The Außenkommando "Unter den Eichen" in Wiesbaden was the site of a subcamp of the SS-Sonderlager Hinzert in which 100 political prisoners performed forced labor.[1][2][3][4]
Within a concentration camp prisoners had to carry out various tasks. They were not supposed to be idle whilst interned. The work could even be pointless and vexatious, without any useful output. Based on military language the SS designated such prisoner task forces as "details" or Kommandos; the generic term being the "works details" (Arbeitskommandos) of a camp. For example, in Dachau concentration camp there was a "Crematorium Works Detail" (Arbeitskommando Krematorium), which was put together from a group of concentration camp prisoners; they were separately accommodated and were to have no contact with the other prisoners. Kommandos that were charged with construction tasks were overseen by prisoner functionaries known as Kapos.
Whether a prisoner was assigned to a physically easy or difficult Kommando affected their chances of survival.[7] A Kommando within a building, for example carrying out technical work, was more bearable for prisoners than Kommandos who found themselves working in the open in winter during freezing temperatures.
KZ Außenkommandosedit
Dachau was the first concentration camp that Reichsführer-SSHimmler had built. It was already in existence in 1933 and developed into a prototype for subsequent concentration camps such as Buchenwald, which appeared in 1937. But even Dachau concentration camp was not geographically restricted to Dachau itself. In addition to the Kommandos that had to be formed within the camp itself, were soon added Kommandos that worked outside the camp, for example the herb plantation detail (Kommando der Kräuterplantage) or the works details assigned to peat cutting. The SS increasingly deployed prisoners outside their concentration camp and made them build installations such as roads, ditches, barracks or SS recreation homes. Concentration camp prisoners were even used for the private purposes of senior Nazi officers: for Oswald Pohl's country house of Brüningsau, for Himmler's Hunting Lodge and also for the country house of Hans Loritz, the commandant of Dachau. Even Eleonore Baur, a nurse at the concentration camp and acquaintance of Hitler, was given her own Kommando.
Many of these works details were only established for weeks or months and their strength varied. In the language used at the time for Kommandos whereby prisoners stayed overnight outside the concentration camp were also called Außenkommandos.[8]
In several cases Außenkommandos developed into new, independent concentration camps: Mauthausen concentration camp began in August 1938 with the arrival of the first prisoner details from Dachau. Niederhagen concentration camp was also formed from a KZ Außenkommando. Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp was initially a subcamp of Buchenwald and later became an independent concentration camp.
At the onset of war the SS increasingly employed concentration camp prisoners in armaments factories. In some cases the prisoners were accommodated in diverse, makeshift sleeping areas; in other cases the SS had them erect their own camp with watchtowers and fences. Many such subcamps (KZ-Außenlager) were laid out in similar fashion to the concentration camps. There were also SS camp commanders (SS-Lagerführer) and prisoner functionaries such as the "camp senior" (Lagerältester) or "block senior" (Blockältester).
Today the camps are known as subcamps (in German either as KZ-Außenlager or Nebenlager). Sometimes the colloquial abbreviation "KZ" is used, but this can also refer to a main camp.
In the hierarchy of the Nazi camp system, subcamps were subordinated to a concentration camp that, for example, held the prisoner records and the death registers. Often the supply of food was poorer than that of the main camp, quite apart from the condition of the sanitary facilities or sleeping arrangements for the prisoners. In subsequent Nazi documents the subcamps are sometimes also referred to as works camps (Arbeitslager).[9]
Listsedit
The following articles list the subcamps under individual main camps of a particular concentration camp:
^. Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung (in German). Archived from the original on 2020-09-19.
^ abBärbel Maul, Axel Ulrich (2014). Renate Knigge-Tesche (ed.). (PDF). Design: Gottfried Schmid (8th ed.). Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden, Kulturamt - Stadtarchiv. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-09-21.
^"KZ-Gedenkstätte "Unter den Eichen"". Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden (in German). from the original on 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
^Wolfgang Jung, Gerhard Honekamp and Hartmann Wunderer (1995). "KZ-Häftlinge und SS in Wiesbaden". Alltag zwischen Mächtigen und Müßiggängern – Historische Erkundungen in Wiesbaden und Umgebung (2nd ed.). Marianne Breuer Verlag. pp. 77–82. ISBN9783980470100.
^KZ-Außenlager in Bayern, Tagung, November 2006. KZ-Außenlager im Ruhrgebiet, Tagung, December 2009.
^Stanislav Zámečník: Das war Dachau. Luxemburg, 2002, ISBN2-87996-948-4. p. 150, Kapitel "Überlebensbedingungen"
^Verzeichnis der Konzentrationslager und ihrer Außenkommandos gemäß § 42 Abs. 2 BEG 2004-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
^Zámečník, p. 303. Kapitel Außenkommandos und Nebenlager
Literatureedit
Wolfgang Benz, Barbara Distel (ed.): KZ-Außenlager. Geschichte und Erinnerung. In: Dachauer Hefte No. 15, Verlag Dachauer Hefte, 1999.
Joanna Skibinska: Die letzten Zeugen. Gespräche mit Überlebenden des KZ-Außenlagers "Katzbach" in den Adlerwerken Frankfurt am Main. Hanau, 2005.
Buggeln, Marc (2012). Das System der KZ-Außenlager: Krieg, Sklavenarbeit und Massengewalt(PDF). Gesprächskreis Geschichte. Vol. 95. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. ISBN978-3-86498-090-9.
External linksedit
Nebenlager oder Außenkommandos Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp memorial site
Die Außenlager des KZ Flossenbürg Flossenbürg concentration camp memorial site
(Bavarian State Office for Political Education Work)
April 08, 2024
subcamp, other, uses, disambiguation, officially, arbeitslager, waffen, were, outlying, detention, centres, haftstätten, that, came, under, command, main, concentration, camps, nazi, germany, german, occupied, europe, nazis, distinguished, between, main, camps. For other uses see Subcamp disambiguation Subcamps a officially Arbeitslager der Waffen SS were outlying detention centres Haftstatten that came under the command of a main concentration camps run by the SS in Nazi Germany and German occupied Europe The Nazis distinguished between the main camps or Stammlager and the subcamps Aussenlager or Aussenkommandos subordinated to them Survival conditions in the subcamps were in many cases poorer for the prisoners than those in the main camps 5 6 2 The Aussenkommando Unter den Eichen in Wiesbaden was the site of a subcamp of the SS Sonderlager Hinzert in which 100 political prisoners performed forced labor 1 2 3 4 Contents 1 Emergence of the concept 1 1 KZ Aussenkommandos 1 2 KZ Aussenlager 2 Lists 3 Notes 4 References 5 Literature 6 External linksEmergence of the concept editWithin a concentration camp prisoners had to carry out various tasks They were not supposed to be idle whilst interned The work could even be pointless and vexatious without any useful output Based on military language the SS designated such prisoner task forces as details or Kommandos the generic term being the works details Arbeitskommandos of a camp For example in Dachau concentration camp there was a Crematorium Works Detail Arbeitskommando Krematorium which was put together from a group of concentration camp prisoners they were separately accommodated and were to have no contact with the other prisoners Kommandos that were charged with construction tasks were overseen by prisoner functionaries known as Kapos Whether a prisoner was assigned to a physically easy or difficult Kommando affected their chances of survival 7 A Kommando within a building for example carrying out technical work was more bearable for prisoners than Kommandos who found themselves working in the open in winter during freezing temperatures KZ Aussenkommandos edit Dachau was the first concentration camp that Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler had built It was already in existence in 1933 and developed into a prototype for subsequent concentration camps such as Buchenwald which appeared in 1937 But even Dachau concentration camp was not geographically restricted to Dachau itself In addition to the Kommandos that had to be formed within the camp itself were soon added Kommandos that worked outside the camp for example the herb plantation detail Kommando der Krauterplantage or the works details assigned to peat cutting The SS increasingly deployed prisoners outside their concentration camp and made them build installations such as roads ditches barracks or SS recreation homes Concentration camp prisoners were even used for the private purposes of senior Nazi officers for Oswald Pohl s country house of Bruningsau for Himmler s Hunting Lodge and also for the country house of Hans Loritz the commandant of Dachau Even Eleonore Baur a nurse at the concentration camp and acquaintance of Hitler was given her own Kommando Many of these works details were only established for weeks or months and their strength varied In the language used at the time for Kommandos whereby prisoners stayed overnight outside the concentration camp were also called Aussenkommandos 8 In several cases Aussenkommandos developed into new independent concentration camps Mauthausen concentration camp began in August 1938 with the arrival of the first prisoner details from Dachau Niederhagen concentration camp was also formed from a KZ Aussenkommando Mittelbau Dora concentration camp was initially a subcamp of Buchenwald and later became an independent concentration camp KZ Aussenlager edit nbsp The earth huts in Kaufering concentration camp in which prisoners were accommodatedAt the onset of war the SS increasingly employed concentration camp prisoners in armaments factories In some cases the prisoners were accommodated in diverse makeshift sleeping areas in other cases the SS had them erect their own camp with watchtowers and fences Many such subcamps KZ Aussenlager were laid out in similar fashion to the concentration camps There were also SS camp commanders SS Lagerfuhrer and prisoner functionaries such as the camp senior Lageraltester or block senior Blockaltester Today the camps are known as subcamps in German either as KZ Aussenlager or Nebenlager Sometimes the colloquial abbreviation KZ is used but this can also refer to a main camp In the hierarchy of the Nazi camp system subcamps were subordinated to a concentration camp that for example held the prisoner records and the death registers Often the supply of food was poorer than that of the main camp quite apart from the condition of the sanitary facilities or sleeping arrangements for the prisoners In subsequent Nazi documents the subcamps are sometimes also referred to as works camps Arbeitslager 9 Lists editThe following articles list the subcamps under individual main camps of a particular concentration camp List of subcamps of Auschwitz List of subcamps of Buchenwald List of subcamps of Dachau List of subcamps of Flossenburg List of subcamps of Gross Rosen List of subcamps of Hinzert List of subcamps of Herzogenbusch List of subcamps of Krakow Plaszow List of subcamps of Majdanek List of subcamps of Mauthausen List of subcamps of Mittelbau List of subcamps of Natzweiler Struthof List of subcamps of Neuengamme List of subcamps of Ravensbruck List of subcamps of Sachsenhausen List of subcamps of StutthofNotes edit also translated as satellite campsReferences edit Das Wiesbadener Aussenkommando Unter den Eichen des SS Sonderlagers KZ Hinzert Hessische Landeszentrale fur politische Bildung in German Archived from the original on 2020 09 19 a b Barbel Maul Axel Ulrich 2014 Renate Knigge Tesche ed Das Wiesbadener Aussenkommando Unter den Eichen des SS Sonderlagers KZ Hinzert PDF Design Gottfried Schmid 8th ed Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden Kulturamt Stadtarchiv Archived from the original PDF on 2021 09 21 KZ Gedenkstatte Unter den Eichen Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden in German Archived from the original on 2021 07 31 Retrieved 2023 05 14 Wolfgang Jung Gerhard Honekamp and Hartmann Wunderer 1995 KZ Haftlinge und SS in Wiesbaden Alltag zwischen Machtigen und Mussiggangern Historische Erkundungen in Wiesbaden und Umgebung 2nd ed Marianne Breuer Verlag pp 77 82 ISBN 9783980470100 KZ Aussenlager in Bayern Tagung November 2006 KZ Aussenlager im Ruhrgebiet Tagung December 2009 Caplan Jane Wachsmann Nikolaus 2009 Introduction Concentration Camps in Nazi Germany The New Histories Routledge pp 1 16 ISBN 978 1 135 26322 5 Stanislav Zamecnik Das war Dachau Luxemburg 2002 ISBN 2 87996 948 4 p 150 Kapitel Uberlebensbedingungen Verzeichnis der Konzentrationslager und ihrer Aussenkommandos gemass 42 Abs 2 BEG Archived 2004 11 26 at the Wayback Machine Zamecnik p 303 Kapitel Aussenkommandos und NebenlagerLiterature editWolfgang Benz Barbara Distel ed KZ Aussenlager Geschichte und Erinnerung In Dachauer Hefte No 15 Verlag Dachauer Hefte 1999 Joanna Skibinska Die letzten Zeugen Gesprache mit Uberlebenden des KZ Aussenlagers Katzbach in den Adlerwerken Frankfurt am Main Hanau 2005 Buggeln Marc 2012 Das System der KZ Aussenlager Krieg Sklavenarbeit und Massengewalt PDF Gesprachskreis Geschichte Vol 95 Friedrich Ebert Stiftung ISBN 978 3 86498 090 9 External links editNebenlager oder Aussenkommandos Natzweiler Struthof concentration camp memorial site Die Aussenlager des KZ Flossenburg Flossenburg concentration camp memorial site Dachau subcamp Bavarian State Office for Political Education Work Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Subcamp amp oldid 1214519511, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
