Außenlagersubcamps

Außenlagersubcamps, often referred to as subcamps or satellite camps, were auxiliary facilities attached to larger concentration or labor camps. These subcamps were established by Nazi Germany during World War II to exploit forced labor for a wide range of industrial and military purposes. Their primary function was to house prisoners who were being used in factories, construction projects, or resource extraction operations located some distance from the main camp.

The establishment of Außenlagersubcamps allowed for the dispersal of prisoners and the maximization of their labor output. These subcamps varied significantly in size and conditions, with some housing only a few dozen inmates while others held thousands. They were often rudimentary, consisting of basic barracks or hastily constructed shelters, and the living conditions were typically harsh, characterized by overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and insufficient food.

The prisoners in these subcamps, drawn from various groups including Jews, political prisoners, and forced laborers from occupied territories, endured brutal treatment and immense hardship. While the main camps were notorious for their systematic extermination policies, the subcamps primarily focused on extracting labor until the prisoners succumbed to exhaustion, disease, or maltreatment. The liberation of these subcamps often occurred alongside the liberation of the main camps, revealing the widespread nature of Nazi forced labor and persecution.