Hidden amidst the Feldblumenweg and Petunienweg corner, the Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque whispers stories of hardship and resilience. The Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Hamburg’s history. It commemorates the 500 Jewish women imprisoned here, a satellite camp of the Neuengamme concentration camp. These women, most from Poland, arrived in the summer of 1944. They were initially taken from Auschwitz to Hamburg and spent weeks at the Dessauer Ufer satellite camp.
The Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque details their plight. They were forced into slave labor, building prefabricated concrete houses near Poppenbüttel station and working in various factories. The plaque’s inscription tells of their journey from Auschwitz, their forced labor, and their eventual transport to Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. The Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque isn’t just about the Jewish women. It also tells of another group of female prisoners, non-Jewish, who were brought here from the Beendorf satellite camp. By the war’s end, 29 of these women perished in the camp. This plaque serves as a memorial to both groups, their suffering, and their lost lives.
The story of the Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque continues beyond the war. Students from Oberalster Secondary School researched the camp’s history. They published their findings in 1980/81. Their work led to the plaque’s creation in 1982. Today, the Begegnungsstätte Poppenbüttel, a local community initiative, maintains the area around the Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque. They hold an annual event on January 27th to ensure the memory of these women isn’t forgotten. The Sasel Satellite Camp Plaque is more than a metal marker. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of those imprisoned here and a reminder of the importance of remembrance.