THE SATELLITE CAMPS OF KZ GROSS-ROSEN

The national socialists started expanding the subcamp system of Groß-Rosen in 1942. At that time, the first so-called work camp – Breslau-Lissa – was set up. Further expansions had to be postponed until 1944. This delay had become necessary due to a shortage of labour in the industry of Lower Silesia, caused by the conscription of many young German citizens into the armed forces and the relocation of arms industry facilities to the region. Forced labour camps for Jews, run by the “Organisation Schmelt”, were also under the command of Groß-Rosen’s administration. In Lower Silesia, the Sudetes and the region around Luban, a total of 100 satellite camps were built, always in close vicinity to local arms industry facilities. Among the largest ones were: AL Fünfteichen, 4 camps in Breslau, AL Dyhenfurth, AL Landeshut and AL Riese. Among the businesses who profited from the workers in the subcamps were: a chemical company in Dyhenfurth (which became the chemical company “Rokita” in Brzeg Dolny after the war), an armament factory in Fünfteichen (the car factory “Jelcz” in Laskowice after the war) and the factory “FAMO” in Breslau where – among other things – plane engines and military vehicles were built (“Dolmel” in Wroclaw after the war). The satellite camps were divided into three different categories: camps for female Jewish prisoners form Poland and Hungary, camps for male and female prisoners, and camps exclusively reserved for men. The women were housed in subcamps where – just like the men – they had to work for the arms as well as the textile industry. Towards the end of the war, they were also used to erect antitank obstacles and to dig trenches.