Eintrachthütte

Eintrachthütte was opened near Zgoda in Poland in May 1943 and remained in operation until 23rd January 1945. It was commanded by SS-Hauptscharfuhrer Josef Remmele until July 1944 and subsequently SS-Hauptscharfuhrer Wilhelm Gehring. Both commanders were known for their inhumanity, and they treated the inmates brutally, including incidences of torture. They were also directly involved in executions.

The camp consisted of six wooden barracks, a kitchen, infirmary, storehouse, latrine, shower block with disinfection chamber and a brick administration building. The double fence was electrified with four guard towers at the corners and 10 spotlights. The barracks consisted of two rooms inside of which there were three-level bunks. Mattresses were packed with straw and blankets were provided. 60-80 prisoners were held in each room.

Breakfast consisted solely of a coffee substitute. Soup, usually spinach, was provided for dinner with the occasional sausage. Supper consisted of coffee substitute, a small lump of margarine, some cheese and 0.25 kilograms of bread, some of which was meant to be eaten with breakfast the following morning.

At is peak, the camp contained 1,374 prisoners who were put to work at a nearby armaments factory, currently the site of ZUT Zgoda SA, operated by OSMAG (Oberschlesische Maschinen und Waggonfabrik AG) and Ost-Maschinenbau. Prisoners who fell sick or were otherwise unable to work were sent back to the Auschwitz main site. Generally, 10-15 prisoners died each week. Although the exact number of deaths is not known, due to destruction of camp documents, they are estimated to have been in the magnitude of several hundred.

Initially, most of the prisoners were Poles and Jews. They generally worked two shifts, producing and installing components for anti-aircraft guns. Some of the prisoners tried to escape in May 1944, using a tunnel they had been digging for over a month. However, a guard raised the alarm, even so, several Russians, a Pole and a Jew managed to escape. 

The camp was guarded by around 60 personnel drawn from the 5th Wachkompanie Monowitz along with former Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe from the 8th Sentry Company Auschwitz.

In January 1945, remaining prisoners were evacuated to Mauthausen.


Photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

Other photographs, including of the present site, can be viewed here.






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