
	**JavaScript based drop down DHTML menu generated by NavStudio. (OpenCube Inc. - http://www.opencube.com)**

Natzweiler-Struthof

Introduction By Peter Landé

· Background
· Database
· Acknowledgements
· Searching the Database

Background

The Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp (called Natzweiler for short), the only camp built by the Nazis on French soil, is one of the least known camps. Located initially in Schirmeck near Natzweiler, about 50 kilometers south of Strassburg in Alsace, it was established in 1940 as a forced labor camp, primarily for local opponents of the German occupation. Late in 1941, the SS moved in and established a camp in Natzweiler to mine a nearby granite quarry. Gradually other sub-camps were established but the total number of prisoners remained small until late 1942. However, by 1943 the scope of the camp was expanded into southwest Germany and dozens of small sub-camps were established.

At its peak it probably held 19,000 prisoners and a total of 46,000 prisoners were registered as prisoners at some time or other until its evacuation in September 1944. As Allied troops approached, many of the prisoners were forced on marches eastward, during which many died.

Initially Natzweiler held few Jews, but in 1944 larger numbers arrived there, transferred from Auschwitz and other East European camps.

List of Subcamps of Natzweiler-Struthof

The following is a list of subcamps of the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, and work kommandos from the main camp. These subordinated camps were located on both sides of the German-French border.

Auerbach-Bensheim
Bad Rappenau
Balingen
Binau
Bisingen
Bruttig
Calw
Colmar
Darmstadt
Daudenzell
Dautmergen
Dormettingen
Echterdingen
Ellwangen
Erzingen
Frankfurt/Main
Frommern
Geisenheim
Geislingen/Steige
Goslar
Gross-Hesepe
Guttenbach
Hailfingen
Haslach
Heilbronn
Heppenheim
Hessenthal
Iffezheim

Kaisheim
Kochem
Kochendorf
Leonberg
Longwy
Markirch
Metz
Natzweiler
Neckarbischofsheim
Neckarelz
Neckargartach
Neckargerach
Neunkirchen
Oberehnheim
Peltre
Sainte Marie aux Mines (Markirch)
Sandhofen
Schömberg
Schörzingen
Sennheim-Cernay
Unterschwarzach
Wesserling
Vaihingen
Wilhelmsburg
Unterriexingen
Wasseralfingen
Wolfsberg

By the fall of 1944, there were about 7,000 prisoners in the main camp and more than 20,000 in subcamps.

The Liberation of Natzweiler-Struthof

With the approach of Allied forces in September 1944, the main camp at Natzweiler-Struthof was evacuated and the prisoners distributed among the subcamps. In March 1945, the Germans disbanded the subcamps and sent most of the prisoners on death marches -- forced marches over long distances and under brutal conditions -- toward the Dachau concentration camp in southern Germany. From May 1941 to March 1945, more than 17,000 people died in the Natzweiler-Struthof camp system.

A great deal of additional information about Natzweiler-Struthof is available at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) site and on the Internet.

Database

This database includes 33,710 records. The fields of the database are as follows:

Microfilm / Roll / Section
Alphabetical Roll / Section
Number
Surname
Given Name
Date of Birth
Nationality
Date of Arrival in Natzweilwer
Arrived From / In / Transferred To
Prisoner Number
Date of Arrival / Transfer
Date of Death
Prisoner Type
Hospitalization Date
Remarks
Release Date

Acknowledgments

This collection was taken from a collection held at the United States National Archives (NARA) in College Park, Maryland (A3355/2/1 - A3355/3/7). Irving Horn, now deceased, was the NARA volunteer who compiled the list, a copy of which was provided to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), which donated it to JewishGen, Inc.

In addition, thanks to JewishGen Inc. for providing the website and database expertise to make this database accessible. Special thanks to Warren Blatt and Michael Tobias for their continued contributions to Jewish genealogy. Particular thanks to the Research Division headed by Joyce Field and to Nolan Altman, coordinator of Holocaust files.