Husum-Schwesing concentration camp

About

The Husum-Schwesing subcamp (German: KZ-Außenlager Husum-Schwesing) in the Schwesing district of Engelsburg, about five kilometres northeast of Husum, became a satellite of Neuengamme concentration camp on 26 September 1944 and was occupied by prisoners in connection with the construction of the so-called Frisian Wall (Friesenwall). Some 2,500 people from 14 countries were incarcerated here in autumn 1944; 297 prisoners died as a result of forced labour, malnutrition and abuse. The camp was closed on 29 December 1944.

The camp was sited a few kilometres northeast of Husum in the county of Nordfriesland between the main road from Husum to Flensburg (today the B 200 ) and the now disused railway line to Flensburg. The local name for this area was Engelsburg, which is why the name KZ Engelsburg is sometimes used.

In 1938/39 the Husum-Schwesing Airfield was laid out. A camp for the 231st Construction Battalion was built for the workers near the village of Schwesing. The camp's capacity was set at 250 men. The Luftwaffe stationed in Husum during the Second World War, however, only stationed aircraft dummies there to mislead Allied bomber units flying in from the North Sea. After the construction troops withdrew, the camp temporarily served as a collection point for soldiers of the Wehrmacht returning from leave bound for their units in Scandinavia. A temporary vacancy followed.

In September 1944, the villagers of Husum were ordered to Schwesing to erect a double barbed wire fence around the camp and erect high watchtowers at the four corners.

The camp consisted of nine barracks, eight of which were used as prisoners' quarters and one as an infirmary. In addition, there were two larger buildings on the 3,000 m 2 (32,000 sq ft) site that housed the camp cookhouse, armoury, a tailor's and cobbler's, as well as four temporary latrines.

On 25 September, around 1,500 prisoners from Neuengamme concentration camp were transported to Husum-Schwesing in cattle wagons of the German Reichsbahn. On 20 October, another 1,000 prisoners from Neuengamme followed. Most of the prisoners were of Dutch, French, Danish and Polish nationality. Other prisoners came from countries like the Soviet Union and Germany. The camp elder was Reichsdeutsche political prisoner, Heinrich Neufeldt.

Using only shovels and spades the prisoners had to dig a four to five metre wide and three metre deep anti-tank trench and construct battle positions and shelters in the heavy marshland. Sometimes they stood in cold water and mud all day long. In the process, they were exposed to the beatings of the kapos, who were supposed to force people to work, but often terrorized at random. Older marines “unfit for field service” guarded the prisoners at work and during the often kilometre-long march to get there.

The operation of the camp took place in view of the local population: on the way to the Atlantic Wall site, the prisoners were driven through the streets of Husum in the morning and in the evening. Husum residents had to transport their bodies to the cemetery in their cart. There are also local reports of seeing the prisoners through the camp fence and at work.

In December 1944, the Friesenwall had become completely pointless due to the changing military situation. The camp in Husum-Schwesing was closed and the surviving prisoners returned to Neuengamme.

From September 1944, the Husum-Schwesing sub-camp was headed by SS-Untersturmführer, Hans Hermann Griem, who in November 1944 also took over the management of the Ladelund sub-camp. He constantly withheld food, enjoyed sadistic torture, shot several prisoners himself and was often drunk. After the camps were dissolved, Griem commanded the Dalum subcamp (Emslandlager Dalum).

After the end of the war, most of the dead were returned to their homeland. For a time, the site served as a refugee camp.

It was not until 1963 that the Public Prosecutor of Flensburg reopened the investigation against Griem, but did not make any progress. In 1965, the whereabouts of Griem could be determined. He had settled in Hamburg-Bergedorf. Thereupon the case was handed over to the Hamburg public prosecutor in 1966. This began with systematic investigations aimed at a lawsuit against Griem. On 16 January 1969, the Hamburg State Court opened preliminary judicial investigations against Griem. Shortly before the actual trial began, Griem died on 25 June 1971.

In September 1944, the villagers of Husum were ordered to Schwesing to erect a double barbed wire fence around the camp and erect high watchtowers at the four corners.

The camp consisted of nine barracks, eight of which were used as prisoners' quarters and one as an infirmary. In addition, there were two larger buildings on the 3,000 m 2 (32,000 sq ft) site that housed the camp cookhouse, armoury, a tailor's and cobbler's, as well as four temporary latrines.

On 25 September, around 1,500 prisoners from Neuengamme concentration camp were transported to Husum-Schwesing in cattle wagons of the German Reichsbahn. On 20 October, another 1,000 prisoners from Neuengamme followed. Most of the prisoners were of Dutch, French, Danish and Polish nationality. Other prisoners came from countries like the Soviet Union and Germany. The camp elder was Reichsdeutsche political prisoner, Heinrich Neufeldt.

Using only shovels and spades the prisoners had to dig a four to five metre wide and three metre deep anti-tank trench and construct battle positions and shelters in the heavy marshland. Sometimes they stood in cold water and mud all day long. In the process, they were exposed to the beatings of the kapos, who were supposed to force people to work, but often terrorized at random. Older marines “unfit for field service” guarded the prisoners at work and during the often kilometre-long march to get there.

The operation of the camp took place in view of the local population: on the way to the Atlantic Wall site, the prisoners were driven through the streets of Husum in the morning and in the evening. Husum residents had to transport their bodies to the cemetery in their cart. There are also local reports of seeing the prisoners through the camp fence and at work.

In December 1944, the Friesenwall had become completely pointless due to the changing military situation. The camp in Husum-Schwesing was closed and the surviving prisoners returned to Neuengamme.

From September 1944, the Husum-Schwesing sub-camp was headed by SS-Untersturmführer, Hans Hermann Griem, who in November 1944 also took over the management of the Ladelund sub-camp. He constantly withheld food, enjoyed sadistic torture, shot several prisoners himself and was often drunk. After the camps were dissolved, Griem commanded the Dalum subcamp (Emslandlager Dalum).

After the end of the war, most of the dead were returned to their homeland. For a time, the site served as a refugee camp.