Buchenwald

Abi Dawson

Nazi Camps

Doors of Buchenwald

250,000 Passed Through

Gates of Buchenwald

Gates bear inscription “To Each his Due!”

New Arrivals

Satellite Camps

Over 130 Satellite and Extension Camps.

Buchenwald 1945

Forced Labor Camp

Designed to Kill Prisoners by Forced Labor

Identification

Each of the Buchenwald prisoners had a number. It was not uncommon for numbers to be mixed up and one punished for another’s offense.

Roll Call

In 1943, dogs trained to kill men in these striped suits were brought into the camp and released outside its borders.

Roll Call

Four roll calls took place each day.

If a prisoner was missing, the rest would stand until he was found.

Arrivals from Kristallnacht

Roll Call for prisoners arrested during “Night of Broken Glass”

Crematoria

The minimum death quota was 80 per day.

This was often exceeded.

Barracks

First barracks were built by prisoners themselves.

Elie Wiesel at Buchenwald

Elie is in the second row of bunks, seventh from the left.

Administration

Karl Otto Koch, the Commandant

He was easily bribed, and had a watch fob made from prisoners’ gold teeth bearing the birth dates of his children.

Ilse Koch Ilse Koch

committed many war crimes. One of her interests was using tattooed skin to make lamp shades and book covers.

Ilse Koch

She was known for riding her horse through the camps and whipping prisoners.

Children at Buchenwald

The children sometimes hid among the prisoners’ belongings.

Children at Buchenwald

If they were caught, the punishment was to be laid among those already in the ditches.

Evacuation

Graves of Prisoners who died during Death Marches

Liberation

These starving children were liberated by American soldiers on April 11, 1945

Liberation

Not many survived to be liberated.

We Remember

A memorial to those who died at Buchenwald.