Lagischa

 


Lagischa was established in September 1943 in the Łagisza suburb of Bedzin to assist in the construction of an electric power station by Energie-Versorgung Oberschlesien (EVO) corporation. There were initially 300 prisoners in the camp, later increasing to 500 and then 725 at peak capacity in August 1944. They were accommodated in four barracks and there was also an outpatient clinic building an infirmary and three storage barracks.

The prisoners were set to work constructing a railway siding, demolishing houses and other buildings, digging ditches and unloading machinery and construction materials. However, the project to build the power station was cancelled in September 1944 and the camp was closed down. Some of the prisoners were transferred to Sosnowitz and Neu-Dachs. The remainder went to Auschwitz I.

The camp was commanded by Unterscharführer Horst Czerwinski. It was guarded by more than 30 SS men who treated the prisoners brutally, beating them with sticks and rifle butts and forcing them into the water of the reservoir near the roll-call square that was normally used for fire prevention. When this occurred, those who tried to climb out were pushed back in.

Former sub-camp barracks repurposed as domestic housing

Former camp entrance

Bunker

Camp fence posts moved to an adjacent site and reused

Memorial to the camp victims at the entrance to the power station














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