jeanzpix: ESTERWEGEN CONCENTRATION CAMP

Esterwegen is a municipality in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. In 1922 a concentration camp was established there. In 1936 the camp was dissolved and used until 1945 as a prisoner camp, for political prisoners and later for prisoners of the decree "Nacht und Nebel."

Esterwegen was one of fifteen camps and prisons in the area of Emden. All were near the Ems River, in rural areas. Most Emsland prisoners were Christians who were prisoners of war, political opponents of Nazism, anti-German resistance fighters, German military prisoners who had seriously misbehaved in a German military prison, homosexuals and criminals. Emsland prisoners' work included building roads, digging ditches, and farming.

Esterwegen's site is now occupied by a German army depot. Outside the depot's main entrance, signs tell about the Esterwegen concentration camp. Tourists are not allowed in the depot. Not knowing this, we drove right through an open gate and went completely around the camp. We even stopped to inquire of a worker if we could gain entrance. Alas, all the doors were locked, but there was obvious construction activity which lent credence to a word we had heard about this camp being readied for tourists. I thought discretion the better part of valor and kept my camera in its case.

We eventually found the cemetery connected to this camp. Pictures below show its beauty in the midst of sadness.

The first paragraph on the plaque above states (perhaps poorly translated):

Here rest 1315 of the deceased criminal captives from Börgermoor, Aschendorfermoor, Brual-Rhede, Walchum, Neusustrum, Oberlangen und Esterwegen, who were condemned and put to death during the time of national socialism for political reasons and for criminal, militarism.

These stones were set by each row of graves in the front part of the cemetery. We wondered if this was an accurate number of the dead because there were many, many more graves in rows behind these.

The cemetery was very well kept up. The size seemed bigger than a football field, and because in was shielded from the highway by trees and shrubbery, was very quiet and peaceful.