What was it like in the concentration camp at Dachau? An attempt to come closer to the truth

by Johann Neuhäusler

Dachau concentration camp ( Konzentrationslager (KZ) Dachau, [ˈdaxaʊ]) was the first of the Nazi concentration camps opened in Germany, intended to hold political prisoners. It is located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory near the medieval town of Dachau, about 16 km (9.9 mi) northwest of Munich in the state of Bavaria, in southern Germany.[1] Opened in 1933 by Heinrich Himmler, its purpose was enlarged to include forced labor, and eventually, the imprisonment of Jews, ordinary German and Austrian criminals, and eventually foreign nationals from countries which Germany occupied or invaded. It was finally liberated in 1945.

Prisoners lived in constant fear of brutal treatment and terror detention including standing cells, floggings, the so-called tree or pole hanging, and standing at attention for extremely long periods.[2] There were 32,000 documented deaths at the camp, and thousands that are undocumented.[3]

In the postwar years it served to hold SS soldiers awaiting trial, after 1948, it held ethnic Germans who had been expelled from eastern Europe and were awaiting resettlement, and also was used for a time as a United States military base during the occupation. It was finally closed for use in 1960.

Genres: History, World War II, War, Nonfiction, Germany

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

Reviews

[John Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

It always amazes me what humans can do to other humans to make them suffer. I was stationed at the camp in Dachau for almost two years from 1963 until early 1965. I have seen the ovens, the blood walls and the unused gas chambers. Our barracks had been the SS Troop barracks. The modern museum at Decay was not there at that time.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If the miracle should happen, that you live to tell the tale, write it down and tell the world what they did to us" "That was the most sacred will of comrades who died in our arms or were removed...to be gassed. That was the will of brothers and true friends who seemed to have no name, but only numbers, whose ashes escaped through the chimneys and covered the fields of a foreign country" Johannes Neuhausler.
Dachau is located about nine miles northwest of Munich, Germany and in March 1933 was the first Concentration Camp established by the Third Reich. It was the prototype from which all others followed. Dachau was liberated by soldiers of the US Army on April 29, 1945.
It is not possible to be on the grounds at Dachau and have any comprehension of what actually happened there or why. There is no joy, it is a solemn and quiet place. Their exists now The Carmelite Convent of the Holy Blood of Dachau, a small chapel constructed in 1963, where your prayers and atonement may be offered.

My 23rd edition of this book was purchaed in Dachau, there are now 29 editions. I found copies in local library consortiums and University libraries. You can also find copies by going to Worldcat.Org and entering your zip code.

[Ted Hovey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting eyewitness account of a prisoner in Dachau. Johann Neuhausler, a Catholic priest, was in Dachau for four years.

"On March 21, 1933 the following announcement appeared in the paper Muncher Neuesten Nachrichten:

'On Wednesday, March 22, 1933, the first concentration camp will be opened in the vicinity of Dachau. It can accommodate 5,000 people. We have adopted this measure, undeterred by paltry scruples, in the conviction that our action will help to restore calm to our country and is in the best interests of our people. (sgd) Heinrich Himmler, Commissioner of Police for the city of Munich."

With this announcement the first concentration camp of the Third Reich was established. Neuhausler's book includes an estimate of over 200,000 people that died in Dachau. About 30,000 prisoners were liberated from the camp on April 29, 1945, including 5,000 women, 11 Americans, 77 Norwegians, 1 Canadian, 13 Englishmen, 286 Spaniards, and 5,706 Frenchmen, and others.

[Megan]

Dachau is mentioned repeatedly in The Book Thief, so it seems like the perfect time to revisit this book.

[Diane Mcquarry]

Painful, statistical, real from a priest in the camp.

[Thomas Mcquarry]

A statistical & firsthand account of the treatment and trauma experienced by priests and their fellow prisoners. How some healing occurred by building a monument on the grounds.