Engines roared here. Typewriters clicked. But the Geschichtsort Adlerwerke holds a much darker history. It stands as a memorial to forced labor in Frankfurt during the Nazi era.
The Geschichtsort Adlerwerke opened in March 2022. It occupies the former Adlerwerke factory. This place commemorates the Katzbach concentration camp. This camp operated within the Adlerwerke factory from August 1944.
For about 120 years, the Adlerwerke factory shaped life in Frankfurt’s Gallus district. It produced bicycles and motorcycles. Cars and armaments also rolled off the assembly lines. During World War II, Adlerwerke became deeply involved in the Nazi war machine. The factory primarily manufactured half-track vehicles. They also produced engines and vehicle parts for the Wehrmacht.
As the war intensified, labor shortages grew. Factory management turned to forced laborers to maintain production. From July 1941, foreign civilians and prisoners of war were forced to work here. Adlerwerke became the third-largest user of forced labor in Frankfurt. Roughly 50000 foreign civilians, prisoners of war, and Italian military internees toiled in Frankfurt. They worked across various businesses and households during the war.
In August 1944, the Katzbach concentration camp was established on this site. It was a satellite camp of the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp. A total of 1616 concentration camp prisoners were forced to work at Adlerwerke. Most of these men came from Poland. They were captured during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. Then, they were deported to German concentration camps. Sadly, many prisoners did not survive their time at Katzbach.
The Geschichtsort Adlerwerke offers various educational programs. These programs are available in German and English for students and adult groups. The goal is to explore the scope of action available to individuals involved. Learning about past injustices raises important questions relevant today.
General tours introduce visitors to the history of Katzbach concentration camp. They also cover forced labor in Frankfurt. Interactive tours allow school groups to engage with the exhibition. These tours are guided by the education team. Workshops delve deeper into the exhibition’s content. They utilize historical sources and biographies. Individual themes are explored in detail. Further workshops are planned on prisoners’ biographies and forced labor in Frankfurt. Labor and migration will also be examined.
Guided tours of the district explore the Gallus district. They highlight the relationship between the district, the factory, and the concentration camp. The exhibition consists of four thematic modules. These modules cover the history of the factory. They explore its connections to the district. The modules also address forced labor in Frankfurt. The history of the Katzbach concentration camp is also examined. Finally, the exhibition looks at how these topics have been addressed since 1945.
The Geschichtsort Adlerwerke stands as a stark reminder. It commemorates a dark chapter in Frankfurt’s history. It serves as a place of learning and reflection. Here, the stories of those who suffered will never be forgotten.