Gedenkstätte Breitenau

During the Nazi period, an early concentration camp (1933-1934) and later a so-called educational work camp (Arbeitserziehungslager, 1940-1945) existed in the former monastery which had been dissolved in the l6th century. For the most part, German political opponents were interned in the concentration camp in order to be disciplined and intimidated. In the "education work camp", approximately 6.500 foreign forced laborers who had either refused to work or who had violated Nazi regulations (by associating with Germans, for example) were detained. Through punishment they were to become more submissive in their next work assignment. In addition, there were approximately 2.000 Germans imprisoned, among them approximately 250 Jews. Of the more than 8.000 prisoners, approximately 1.800 were deported to various concentration camps. (Source: http://www.gedenkstaette-breitenau.de/english.htm)