Fürstengrube subcamp

The concentration camp Fürstengrube, also bearing Ostland was one of the larger satellite camp of KZ Auschwitz. It was in Fürstengrube (Polish Wesoła ), 5 km south-west of Myslowitz in Upper Silesia, from which there is a neighborhood today.

The construction was carried out in September 1943 as a work camp for the coal mine Fürstengrube. The administration of the camp took over from September 1943 to March 1944 the SS Master Sergeant Otto Moll and thereafter until the camp was evacuated on January 19, 1945 Max Schmidt.

On January 19, 1945, the evacuation of the concentration camps was because of the approaching Red Army. Under SS Technical Sergeant Max Schmidt began a death march, which began in Fürstengrube with a shooting action and first in the Schleswig-Holstein Ahrensbok, the home of the camp administrator, led the 1283 prisoners. The surviving 400 prisoners were brought to the Cap Arcona, which was sunk on May 3, 1945 in the Bay of Lübeck by allied aircraft.

A well-known inmate for example, was the musician Gideon Klein. The author Sam Pivnik are in his memoirs a detailed insight into the daily life of the camp KZ Fürstengrube, the death march and the demise of the "Cap Arcona ".