June 23, 2010
Greetings from Flossenburg! Flossenburg is a town north about 20 minutes where my sister lives. It’s a small town with much history. This is the site of a work concentration camp where some 100,000 prisoners were held by the SS (Shield Squadron of the Nazi Party) at the concentration camp between 1938 and 1945. At least 30,000 prisoners died at this camp. When the US Army liberated in camp in 1945 they found only 1500 ill and malnourished prisoners in camp; other prisoners were sent by the SS on death marches. In the beginning the camp was used to labor in the granite quarries.
Towards the end of WWII they made aircraft parts for a company. The site has a few preserved buildings; otherwise there is a museum which gives detailed information to read and has some authentic pieces to learn from. The walking tour took about 4 hours (because I like to read every sign posted and all the information in the museum), which also includes a movie (in English) about former inmates who remembered and shared their stories about the work camp. Along with this, in the basement of the museum is a memorial for those who entered the camp. It was both an educational and emotional experience. Still remaining at the site is the original perimeter fence, along with several watch towers and the main headquarters, which housed the administration (officers) of Flossenburg concentration camp.
The laundry and prisoners’ bathroom, in addition to the crematorium are the only remaining buildings on site once housed by the prisoners who were mostly from Poland, the Soviet Union, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and a several other countries (totaling 30).
There are several cemeteries of honor, a Jewish Memorial, the Pyramid of Ashes, and the Square of Nations (which represents countries and how many were lost). At the top of grounds is a Chapel overlooking the site. It really is a sad and yet somehow interesting place. I have provided a link for more information about Flossenburg Concentration Camp located here: http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/othercamps/flossenburg.html
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