Flossenbürg Concentration Camp

The first prisoners, transported from Dachau, arrived at Flossenbürg on May 3, 1938. By the end of 1938, the camp held nearly 1,500 prisoners, and by late 1939, around 1,000 political prisoners, mostly German, were added. The camp’s population continued to grow, with an influx of approximately 1,500 Polish prisoners in 1941, many from the Polish resistance. By the end of 1941, Flossenbürg incarcerated about 3,150 prisoners, along with 1,750 Soviet prisoners of war (POW).

Forced labor was a central aspect of life in Flossenbürg. Prisoners worked in the construction of the camp, the nearby granite quarry, and later in armaments production. The harsh labor conditions, combined with inadequate food, medical care, and disease, led to high mortality rates. By February 1943, the camp held over 4,000 prisoners, and by March 1945, nearly 53,000 prisoners were in the Flossenbürg camp system, including about 14,500 in the main camp.

The camp witnessed numerous atrocities, including mass shootings and executions. More than 1,000 Soviet POWs were shot by the end of 1941, and in 1944, 40 Soviet POWs identified as leaders of a revolt were murdered. In April 1945, several prominent prisoners linked to the July 20, 1944, conspiracy against Hitler were executed, including Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, Major-General Hans Oster, and Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

As Allied forces approached, the SS began evacuating prisoners from Flossenbürg in mid-April 1945. Thousands died during these forced marches, either from exhaustion, starvation, or execution. The 358th and 359th US Infantry Regiments liberated Flossenbürg on April 23, 1945, finding just over 1,500 prisoners remaining. An estimated 30,000 prisoners died in Flossenbürg and its subcamps or on the evacuation routes.

Today, the Flossenbürg Memorial site serves as a place of remembrance and education. It includes preserved remnants of the camp, a museum, and educational resources, providing a comprehensive understanding of the camp’s history and its role in the Holocaust. Nearly 97,000 prisoners passed through the Flossenbürg system, and the memorial ensures that their stories and the lessons learned from this dark chapter of history are not forgotten.