Author Description

The introduction to the first part of this volume, "Sachsenhausen - Stammlager" (pp. 17-72), by Hermann Kaienburg, describes the construction and functioning of the camp at Sachsenhausen. In 1937, ca. 50 Jews were imprisoned there, in 1938 - 900, and during the "Kristallnacht" pogrom 6,000. Those who survived were released after several weeks or months. At the end of 1939, ca. 1,300 prisoners were Jews, most of Eastern European origin. By fall 1942 most of the Jews in the camp were transferred to Poland, in particular to Auschwitz. In 1944, when forced laborers were needed, thousands of Jews were transported from the East to Sachsenhausen. Pp. 73-297 list and describe the satellite camps ("Aussenlager") of Sachsenhausen, each entry by a different author. The introduction to the second part, "Buchenwald - Stammlager" (pp. 301-356), by Harry Stein, describes Buchenwald, which was planned similar to Sachsenhausen. During the early period, the camp was occupied by ca. 8,000 prisoners. Mass imprisonments of German and Austrian Jews occurred between April-December 1938. Out of 17,000 Jews, 11,600 were liberated on condition of immediate emigration. In 1944 the number of Jewish prisoners increased considerably; in February 1945 they numbered one third of the 112,000 inmates; the increase was due to the evacuation of Auschwitz and Gross-Rosen, and led to epidemics and mass deaths. 21,000 prisoners survived. Pp. 357-622 discuss the satellite camps of Buchenwald.