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Welcome to the transnational portal of memorial sites in the former Natzweiler concentration camp complex (KZ complex)

The portal provides orientation for the Natzweiler KZ complex. It tells a brief history of the various camps, but also describes the current remembrance network. Maps show the geographic distribution of the memorial sites. The media collection strives for completeness. In addition, projects are presented, and pedagogic materials are available for downloading. The portal is not a substitute for the individual websites of the memorials .

Understanding history - Learning and comprehension
Auzeichnung des Natzweiler-Struthof Gedenkstättennetzwerkes als Europäisches Kulturerbe
Im Verbund der Gedenkstätten im ehemaligen KZ-Komplex Natzweiler (VGKN) haben sich dreizehn Gedenkstätten an Außenlagern des Konzentrationslagers Natzweiler-Struthof im Elsass zu einem Verbund zusammengeschlossen.
Europäische Zentrum des deportierten Widerstandskämpfer Gelände des ehemaligen Natzweiler Lager

The Natzweiler concentration camp and its satellite camps

The Natzweiler concentration camp and its satellite camps

The KZ complex Natzweiler consisted of the main camp in Alsace and at least 50 satellite camps on both sides of the river Rhine. The main camp opened on the May 1st 1941, while the satellite camps were built from winter of 1942/43 on. Their number increased significantly in 1944.

A total of approximately 52.000 prisoners from 30 nations were run through the main camp and/or the satellite camps. Only about one third of the prisoners ever set foot into the main camp; two thirds of the prisoners were solely imprisoned in the satellite camps.

In documents from the Nazi time the concentration camp is always called “Natzweiler”, but in France “Le Struthof” developed later as a name for it. This is why in the literature often the double name “Natzweiler-Struthof” is found. This portal uses the historic name “Natzweiler”.

Media centre for the Natzweiler concentration camp and its satellite camps

The media centre contains historic publications about the history of the various camps or about special topics, reports by or interviews with survivors and eyewitnesses, films and didactic works, some of which can be downloaded.

Einzelne Ausgaben zu dem Thema der NS-Zeit und den Konzentrationslagern

Books

The book register contains monographies and comprehensive descriptions concerning history or the culture of remembrance, catalogues and didactic works. Use the keyword register for orientation.

Books

Zeitzeugnisse in Fim und Ton, als Dokumentionen

Film and videos

Here, film documentations can be found concerning topics, events or persons associated with the Natzweiler KZ complex and the memorial sites

Films Videos

Zeitzeugen berichten in Interviews und Dokumentationen von Ihren Erlebnissen und Martyrium

Personal accounts and memories

This section contains books written by both survivors and eyewitnesses, as well as “grey” i.e. unpublished literature. In addition, filmed or transcribed interviews can be found. Quite frequently, the works can only be found at the individual memorial sites. 

Interviews

Biographies from many nations

The Natzweiler KZ complex – a European story

People from all over Europe were imprisoned in the Natzweiler main camp and its satellite camps. A large majority of them was imprisoned for political reasons, but there were also those who were persecuted for so-called “race” reasons or other reasons.

Several exemplary biographies show the multiplicity of nations and of the routes of persecution.

Not only a few of the introduced persons later stood up for remembrance, reconciliation and a peaceful and democratic Europe.

Note concerning the text on the left-hand side: the bibliographies from the exhibition “La double fin”, which we mainly present, have not been selected under the aspect of an engagement for Europe.

Prisoner's stories

Die Geschichten der einzelnen Insassen und Opfer

Joint projects for Europe

Cooperation in the culture of remembrance

From the end of the 1990s, the cooperation between the memorial sites within the former Natzweiler KZ complex has deepened. Cooperation across borders plays an ever more significant role. Today, remembrance work is understood by its actors as a European task. The joint portal itself is a part of this development.

The European Label of Cultural Heritage

In 2018, this label was awarded to 14 French and German memorial sites within the Natzweiler complex. It inspires further joint projects.

Further Information

Current projects

The projects that are currently being worked on deal with the fields of pedagogics and continued teacher training, but also with medial presence in the remembrance work.

To the projects

Archive of Projects

In the archive, already completed projects can be accessed.

To the Archive

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