Weferlingen subcamp

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The Weferlingen satellite camp , also known colloquially as the Weferlingen concentration camp , was located near the towns of Grasleben and Buchberg near Helmstedt . It was one of the subcamps of the Buchenwald concentration camp and existed from August 22, 1944 to April 14, 1945. It was nicknamed Gazelle . Concentration camp inmates built an underground production facility in a potash mine in a partially existing tunnel system for the companies Niedersächsische Motorenwerke (NIEMO), a subsidiary of Büssing NAG from Braunschweig, and Henschel .

prehistory

During the Second World War , it became more and more important for German industry to secure production areas from air raids. Often the decision was made to relocate vital production to underground areas. Existing shafts were used, including the “Gerhard” Walbeck shafts near Grasleben and Buchberg, northwest of Walbeck. After an inspection by the military district command in March 1944, it decided that Buchberg was not suitable for relocation due to a poor connection to the railway network, but that it must be possible to create an underground production facility of 73,500 m² in the Gerhard Walbeck shaft. This is to be created at a depth of around 350 to 480 meters. Büssing NAG was promised an area of ​​approx. 3,500 m² for the manufacture of engine parts, the Henschel works were to receive 25,000 m² for armaments production. It was also planned to give the remaining 45,000 m² to other interested parties at a later date.

History of the camp

In mid-1944, construction work began on the “Gerhard” Walbeck shaft, a work that was carried out under the code name Gazelle . In order to achieve the goals set by the Wehrmacht quickly, concentration camp prisoners were requested from the Buchenwald concentration camp in August 1944. As early as August 22nd, the camp complied with the requirements and sent 505 prisoners to the Weferlingen camp. These were initially housed in tents near the Buchberg shaft. Barracks were only built for them later .

The working conditions were extremely tough. The straightening of routes and the erection of concrete bases for machines to be installed were among the tasks of the forced laborers , many of whom were often not allowed to leave the shaft at all. They were housed on simple slatted frames with straw sacks that the SS had installed in the tunnel system. There was no protection against cold or wet. Presumably, but not clearly documented, around 100 more prisoners were housed in a former neighboring children's home.

The hard work, combined with poor nutrition and inadequate housing, quickly showed its effects. The result was a high level of sick leave, almost every week the camp management sent forced laborers who were no longer fit for work to Buchenwald and replaced them with new prisoners. On October 12, the first 12 prisoners who became ill were transferred to Buchenwald. The aim was to bring the work detail to a strength of 500 people. Weekly repatriations of up to 65 forced laborers are evidence of the catastrophic situation of the camp inmates. In most cases, replacements were sent from Buchenwald to the Weferlingen concentration camp on the following day. The camp's documents show that it was possible to keep between 440 and 460 people on duty.

The work made less progress than the Wehrmacht wanted. In addition to sick leave among the forced laborers, a lack of raw materials was often responsible for this. Nevertheless, the first production machines were put into operation at the beginning of 1945 and shortly before the end of the war, both Henschel and the Lower Saxony Motor Works reported that they were manufacturing parts for aircraft and submarines there.

Dissolution of the camp

The Weferlingen subcamp was not closed in the usual way. While the forced laborers were usually transferred to their main camp in long marches or transported in open iron wagons, this measure did not take place at the Weferlingen satellite camp. It is suspected that, despite orders from Buchenwald, the camp management refused to comply. The Allies liberated the camp on April 12, 1945.

In 1947/1948 the barracks of the camp were destroyed and removed. The remains were covered by the border installations of the former GDR .

A memorial stone for three concentration camp prisoners buried there commemorates the fate of the camp inmates in the Walbeck cemetery.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Sixth Ordinance for the Implementation of the Federal Compensation Act (6th DV-BEG) In: Federal Ministry for Justice and Consumer Protection, accessed on June 11, 2019

Web links

Coordinates: 52 ° 17 ′ 52 ″  N , 11 ° 1 ′ 50 ″  E