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Kislau concentration camp

Coordinates: 49°12′58″N 8°38′40″E / 49.2160°N 8.6445°E / 49.2160; 8.6445
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Aerial view of Kislau Castle

Kislau concentration camp, also known as KZ Kislau in German, was a concentration camp operating in Nazi Germany from 21st April 1933 until 1st April 1939.[1]

Kislau concentration camp was located in Kislau castle in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Before turning into a concentration camp, Kislau castle saw many changes in purpose. In 1721, when it was originally built, it was used as a hunting lodge. Decades later in 1813 it was repurposed into a hospital and military casern. In 1824 Kislau castle became a state prison and a workhouse, with the workhouse being housed inside the Kislau castle. Finally in 1933, after the Nazis seized power, part of Kislau castle was made into a concentration camp.[2]

Unlike most concentration camps, Kislau was overseen by Baden Interior Ministry instead of CCI. Kislau functioned mostly as a concentration camp for political prisoners as well as a re-education camp.[2] Ludwig Marum, a socialist parliament member, was murdered in Kislau by SA and SS forces in 1934.[2] After the closing of Kislau concentration camp in 1939, the prisoners were transported to Dachau concentration camp.[1][2]

After being closed, Kislau prison and workhouse continued functioning in the Nazi era. In 1940 two of Himmler's representatives inspected the site to see if it could be utilised as a concentration camp, but the plan was never fulfilled. In spring 1944, after two prisons, Mannheim prison and Saarbrücken prison, were badly damaged in allied air raids, Kislau prison became a place to hold the inmates of the two prisons.[2]

Nowadays the Kislau castle has a memorial stone in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Kislau Concentration Camp - Bad Schonborn - TracesOfWar.com". www.tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Kislau Workhouse". Frank Falla Archive. Retrieved 2024-06-21.

49°12′58″N 8°38′40″E / 49.2160°N 8.6445°E / 49.2160; 8.6445