“Here lived and died our comrades” reads the inscription. This poignant phrase etched onto the Wohnlager Haselhorst der Firma Siemens – Außenlager KZ Sachsenhausen plaque speaks volumes. It’s a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Berlin’s history. This plaque commemorates the site of a forced labor camp and later a subcamp of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
From 1940 to 1945 this area housed thousands of people. Initially it was called a “Wohnlager” or residential camp. The Siemens company used it for foreign workers. These workers were recruited abroad. They were employed in various Siemens production facilities. People from across Europe were forced to work here. They included men and women from France the Netherlands Italy Czechoslovakia Poland Bulgaria Russia Yugoslavia Hungary and Ukraine. Many were forced laborers or concentration camp prisoners.
The northern camp Haselhorst-Nord was initially designed for 2000 men. It was significantly expanded after the bombing of February 1944. By January 1945 more than 2400 people were crammed into the camp. It became the largest subcamp of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. This includes Hungarian Jews. Even in February 1945 Jewish concentration camp prisoners from the Siemens plant in Bobrek Auschwitz were transferred here.
The southern camp Haselhorst-Süd housed approximately 900 women. Established in 1942 it comprised Reichsarbeitsdienst barracks. Both camps had living quarters sanitary facilities and mess halls. Sadly the entire complex was completely destroyed by massive bombing raids on March 28 1945.
The plaque itself is a testament to resilience and remembrance. It’s not just a historical marker. It is a powerful symbol of suffering and survival. The details etched into the stainless steel provide a glimpse into this horrifying past. An aerial photograph from 1943 shows the camp’s layout. A drawing by Marguerite Metayer a female concentration camp prisoner is also included. A second aerial photo from 2011 shows the current site.
The inscription by Leon Schwarzbaum a survivor of Bobrek Auschwitz and Haselhorst is profoundly moving. His words “Here lived and died our comrades – Remembrance and pain live on eternally in us” are a solemn reminder of the inhumanity inflicted upon these individuals. The Wohnlager Haselhorst der Firma Siemens – Außenlager KZ Sachsenhausen plaque serves as a vital reminder of the horrors of the past. It’s a place for reflection and a call for continued remembrance.