Forgotten Horrors: The Nazi sub-camp system

  Furstengrube was established in summer 1943 at the Furstengrube coal mine near Wesola near Myslowice. IG Farben acquired this mine in February 1941 to supply coal for their factory near Auschwitz. A new mine was built besides the old Furstengrube mine. Soviet POWs and Jews were brought in to help the construction and, following agreement with the commander at Auschwitz, Rudolf Hoss, some 600 prisoners were brought to the site, subsequently increasing to 1,300. There was a forced labour camp for Jews, operated by Organisation Schmelt, called Lager Ostland. In September 1943, prisoners were brought from Auschwitz to a camp called Lager Sud. By 1944, the number of prisoners had risen to 1,200, most of whom were Polish Jews, with other Jews brought from across Europe. Several dozen non-Jews also arrived in Spring 1944. In May 1944, the 3rd Guard Company of Auschwitz III (Monowitz) arrived to guard the subcamp, commanded by SS Master Sergeant Otto Moll. In March 1944, SS Technical Ser...

  Jaworzno was first established in 1943 and was later converted into a labour camp by the Soviet NKVD. It was subsequently operated by them and then by other facets of the Polish communist regime from 1945 to 1956. The Nazis operated the camp under the name SS-Lager Dachsgrube or Arbeitslager Neu-Dachs from 15th June 1943. It was evacuated by them in January 1945. The prisoners mainly worked in coal mining and in the construction of the nearby power plant, for Albert Speer's company  EnergieVersorgung Oberschlesien AG   (EVO). British prisoners of war from Stalag VIII-B at Lamsdorf (Lambinowice), helped to build the camp. The guards were mainly drawn from ethnic German (Volksdeutche) members of the SS. The commandant was Bruno Pfutze and his deputy was Paul Weissman. At any one time, the camp held up to 5,000 inmates, mostly European Jews, but also included Poles and Soviet POWs. 14 prisoners managed to escape, but there were many deaths from starvation, disease, hard la...

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 substit...