Here, stones whisper tales of forced labor. This is the Gedenktafel Zwangsarbeitslager Krumpuhler Weg. It marks a place of suffering and resilience during the Nazi era. From 1942 to 1945, this site was a forced labor camp. It was one of the largest in Berlin. Around 1,500 inmates were crammed into this space.
The Krumpuhler Weg camp was run by subsidiaries of Rheinmetall-Borsig. These companies were Alkett and Maget. They produced vital arms for the Nazi war machine. The camp housed Ostarbeiter. These were Soviet forced laborers. Later, French forced laborers and Italian military internees were also imprisoned here.
Imagine the scene. Thirty-eight buildings stood on this site. There were wooden residential barracks and solid stone barracks. Workshops and even a delousing station were present. Splinter protection trenches crisscrossed the grounds. A pigsty stood alongside the living quarters. The main entrance faced Billerbecker Weg. Another entrance was on Werdohler Weg.
Remarkably, the history of the Krumpuhler Weg forced labor camp is well-documented. This is unusual for camps in Berlin. This documentation offers invaluable insights into the lives of those who suffered here. After the war, the site was used as a school. Later, it became a home for “problem girls”. In 1955, it transformed into a school of landscape gardening.
Today, traces of all these historical layers remain. The gardening school and the barracks are protected monuments. In 2010, the district of Reinickendorf created the Krumpuhler Weg Historical Site. Ten artistically designed concrete benches represent the site’s layers. Some benches invite visitors to sit and reflect. Others are overturned, displaying information about the camp.
In 2016, the Reinickendorf Museum established a memorial and information room. It is located in a former stable on the western side of the site. The exhibition focuses on the years of forced labor. Artefacts unearthed during excavations are displayed. These objects offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of the forced laborers. Photographs, documents, and plans are also on display.
The museum serves as a place of information and remembrance. It is open to the public for guided tours and events. School groups can use it as a history laboratory. The grounds of the Krumpuhler Weg Historical Site are open to the public. They are accessible Monday to Friday.
The Gedenktafel Zwangsarbeitslager Krumpuhler Weg stands as a reminder of the past. It serves as a memorial to the victims of forced labor. It encourages reflection on the importance of human dignity and freedom. Take a moment to reflect on the stories etched within these stones.