| The Hermann Helfta POW camp near Eisleben |
Eisleben, Saxony (Lutherstadt Eisleben) is one of the oldest towns between the Harz mountains and
the river Elbe. Here, Martin Luther was born and died. Eisleben was first officially recorded in 994
AD and was granted a town charter in the 12th century. The town grew in importance in the 15th
and 16th centuries, mainly due to the copper mining and smelting industry in the territories of the
once powerful Counts of Mansfeld. The district of Neustadt, a settlement for miners where St.
Anne's Church and the adjacent Augustinian Friars' monastery are located, was established in the
town's heyday. As the local curate, Martin Luther often used to stay there.
the river Elbe. Here, Martin Luther was born and died. Eisleben was first officially recorded in 994
AD and was granted a town charter in the 12th century. The town grew in importance in the 15th
and 16th centuries, mainly due to the copper mining and smelting industry in the territories of the
once powerful Counts of Mansfeld. The district of Neustadt, a settlement for miners where St.
Anne's Church and the adjacent Augustinian Friars' monastery are located, was established in the
town's heyday. As the local curate, Martin Luther often used to stay there.
The Cistercian convent of St Mary of Helfta is located outside Eisleben. It was founded in 1229
below Mansfeld Castle and in 1258 the nuns moved to Helfta. It went on to become a major
European religious and cultural center. Three women represent the influence of the convent on
German mysticism and literature in the 13th century: Getrud the Great, Mechthild of Magdeburg and
Mechthild of Hackeborn.
below Mansfeld Castle and in 1258 the nuns moved to Helfta. It went on to become a major
European religious and cultural center. Three women represent the influence of the convent on
German mysticism and literature in the 13th century: Getrud the Great, Mechthild of Magdeburg and
Mechthild of Hackeborn.
Eisleben, a city with about 24,000 inhabitants in 1945, was attacked with artillery fire and low-flying
attacks, and while no major physical damage was caused to the city itself, surrounding mining and
industrial enterprises were greatly impacted. Three firefighters and fourteen people were killed in the
shelling of the town. By the end, in April 1945, every major school, several restaurants and the city
hospital was being used as a hospital for casualties from the surrounding area.
attacks, and while no major physical damage was caused to the city itself, surrounding mining and
industrial enterprises were greatly impacted. Three firefighters and fourteen people were killed in the
shelling of the town. By the end, in April 1945, every major school, several restaurants and the city
hospital was being used as a hospital for casualties from the surrounding area.
The Americans took control of the city, which surrendered without a fight after futile resistance from
some young boys and old men. All privately owned weapons, binoculars, cameras, radios had to be
delivered and all citizens had to undergo a registration. In addition, a curfew was imposed. A large
wave of arrests by American military police against office-holders of the Third Reich followed.
some young boys and old men. All privately owned weapons, binoculars, cameras, radios had to be
delivered and all citizens had to undergo a registration. In addition, a curfew was imposed. A large
wave of arrests by American military police against office-holders of the Third Reich followed.
The Americans set up a "refugee camp" to keep their many prisoners of war as well as to detain
certain civilians on the north and east side of the mine shaft at the Hermann Helfta, but it was not a
"real" camp. It was rather a field hastily fenced with barbed wire without any barracks or housing.
The prisoners had to sleep on the bare ground and there was hardly any food. Water was provided
only once a day from a toxic former agricultural water truck which had carried pesticides. Numerous
ex-inmates testified that while bread was being sent to them, the US guards let it mold outside of the
fences in view of the starving inmates. They describe having to sleep in the open under pouring rain
and in storms, with their mouths open trying to get drops of fluid, of some people having barely any
clothing to cover themselves and of the rampant physical abuse and torment they endured. Below:
former site of the "camp".
certain civilians on the north and east side of the mine shaft at the Hermann Helfta, but it was not a
"real" camp. It was rather a field hastily fenced with barbed wire without any barracks or housing.
The prisoners had to sleep on the bare ground and there was hardly any food. Water was provided
only once a day from a toxic former agricultural water truck which had carried pesticides. Numerous
ex-inmates testified that while bread was being sent to them, the US guards let it mold outside of the
fences in view of the starving inmates. They describe having to sleep in the open under pouring rain
and in storms, with their mouths open trying to get drops of fluid, of some people having barely any
clothing to cover themselves and of the rampant physical abuse and torment they endured. Below:
former site of the "camp".
The hygienic conditions were as miserable as the water supply. Prisoners began dropping like flies,
but anyone attempting an attempt to escape was immediately shot. The number of prisoners was
increasing and conditions became more unbearable. There was almost no space left available for a
prisoner to lie down. When a couple of prisoners complained at last, a group of them was herded
onto a truck by the Americans and taken to the liberated Buchenwald concentration camp near
Weimar to see the "atrocity exhibits" which had been recently been polished up by the Americans for
use as learning tools for their German "re-education" policy. On their return, the prisoners had to
describe the scene and recite alleged German atrocities to their fellow prisoners in the Helfta camp
who were gathered together for the "show". Thus, each protest was suppressed at once.
but anyone attempting an attempt to escape was immediately shot. The number of prisoners was
increasing and conditions became more unbearable. There was almost no space left available for a
prisoner to lie down. When a couple of prisoners complained at last, a group of them was herded
onto a truck by the Americans and taken to the liberated Buchenwald concentration camp near
Weimar to see the "atrocity exhibits" which had been recently been polished up by the Americans for
use as learning tools for their German "re-education" policy. On their return, the prisoners had to
describe the scene and recite alleged German atrocities to their fellow prisoners in the Helfta camp
who were gathered together for the "show". Thus, each protest was suppressed at once.
By the end of May, it became increasingly difficult to manage Helfta and it was disbanded, with
some of the prisoners were moved by trucks to Naumburg on the Saale. By then, 80,000 to 90,000
prisoners had been interned in Helfta (a number now being "downsized" by "modern historians" to a
mere 22,000). The death toll in any case is considered to be somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000.
some of the prisoners were moved by trucks to Naumburg on the Saale. By then, 80,000 to 90,000
prisoners had been interned in Helfta (a number now being "downsized" by "modern historians" to a
mere 22,000). The death toll in any case is considered to be somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000.
After the Americans handed over the entire area to the communists as previously agreed, the subject
was officially taboo to speak of, and this was the policy of the former German Democratic Republic.
Since reunification, a monumental stone has finally been erected to the immense suffering of the
inmates of the POW camp Helfta, donated by former German prisoners of war and the Folk Society
Helfta. Much of the former camp was divided into small land parcels with homes built over another
part. Not a single reference exists to this wretched piece of German history exists today.
was officially taboo to speak of, and this was the policy of the former German Democratic Republic.
Since reunification, a monumental stone has finally been erected to the immense suffering of the
inmates of the POW camp Helfta, donated by former German prisoners of war and the Folk Society
Helfta. Much of the former camp was divided into small land parcels with homes built over another
part. Not a single reference exists to this wretched piece of German history exists today.
| Naumburg prisoner of war camp |
From April to June 1945, on the grounds of a bombed-out barracks with a warehouse in the middle
of the city of Naumburg, the Americans interred 20,000-40,000 prisoners of war in a makeshift
concentration camp also in a fenced meadow with grim conditions. The POWs were kept in the open
in spite of persistent snow and rain and were forced to lie down unprotected and spend nights in the
snow. Many of the Naumburg prisoners came from other notorious camps such as Bad Kreuznach.
of the city of Naumburg, the Americans interred 20,000-40,000 prisoners of war in a makeshift
concentration camp also in a fenced meadow with grim conditions. The POWs were kept in the open
in spite of persistent snow and rain and were forced to lie down unprotected and spend nights in the
snow. Many of the Naumburg prisoners came from other notorious camps such as Bad Kreuznach.
Although local churches donated bread, the Americans left it to mold here, too. Later there was
watery soup without fat or meat, but newcomers were not allowed any food at all for their first few
days. Residents secretly throw what food they had over the fence into the prison camp. The hygienic
conditions were appalling, and soon many suffered from diarrhea and dysentery and every day
dozens died. There were ten year old boys, very old men and some women in the camp. U.S. soldier
with cocked guns stood by with orders to shoot anyone fleeing. The death toll is unknown. Only
three months later, the city was handed over to the Red Army.
watery soup without fat or meat, but newcomers were not allowed any food at all for their first few
days. Residents secretly throw what food they had over the fence into the prison camp. The hygienic
conditions were appalling, and soon many suffered from diarrhea and dysentery and every day
dozens died. There were ten year old boys, very old men and some women in the camp. U.S. soldier
with cocked guns stood by with orders to shoot anyone fleeing. The death toll is unknown. Only
three months later, the city was handed over to the Red Army.
Naumburg (Saale) is a town in today's Saxony-Anhalt first mentioned in 1012 and in the Middle Ages
it was an important trading center on the Via Regia, mentioned in 1278 for its trade fairs. Later in
time, Friedrich Nietzsche spent most of his childhood and youth in nearby Pforta.
it was an important trading center on the Via Regia, mentioned in 1278 for its trade fairs. Later in
time, Friedrich Nietzsche spent most of his childhood and youth in nearby Pforta.