Buchenwald Concentration Camp

Buchenwald, a German concentration camp for political prisoners was established outside the city of Weimar in Thuringia in July 1937. Unlike other camps that carried the slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei," Buchenwald's entrance carried the slogan "Jedem das Seine" ("To Each his Own)." At the time of its liberation on 11 April 1945, it contained prisoners from at least inmates of 51 nationalities:

One of its most famous end of war prisoners was Nobel Prize winner Eli Wiesel. Also included were American POWs. The number of victims is put at 56,545 according to Nazi records on the camp, which was not an extermination camp as the camps in occupied Poland. Rather its main purpose was slave labor.

As the area where Buchenwald is found became part of the Soviet occupation zone of Germany and the DDR, it was used as camp for anti-Communists until February 10, 1950. Therefore, like several other camps, it has a double history. As many as 22,000 inmates died under Soviet rule in the camp.

For other CHGS pages on Buchenwald, see:

Edward R. Murrow's famous report from Buchenwald, 1945:

The photos on this page were taken by Stephen Feinstein during a tour of the camp with artist Horst Hoheisel of Kassel, who has created several monuments in Buchenwald and Weimar.

Old Buchenwald Monument

The old Monument at Buchenwald built by the Soviet Union commemorates victims from 13 countries of origin but not Jews specifically.The old monument is now visited infrequently, especially since information has been revealed about the number of deaths at Soviet and DDR hands.The monument was designed by Fritz Cremer and dedicated on September 14, 1958. The hill at Ettersburg within the monument contains ashes of victims from Buchenwald and other camps.

The style of the monument is as follws:

Photos from Summer 2007

Buchenwald Concentration CampMap of Buchenwald Buchenwald Concentration CampEntrance to Buchenwald and clock frozen at time of liberation Buchenwald Concentration CampEntrance to Buchenwald and clock frozen at time of liberation Buchenwald Concentration CampEntrance gate: "Jedem das seine," ("To Each his Own")
Buchenwald Concentration CampEntrance gate: "Jedem das seine," ("To Each his Own") Buchenwald Concentration CampEntrance gate: "Jedem das seine," ("To Each his Own") Buchenwald Concentration CampBlood road built by inmates near ramp Buchenwald Concentration Camp Former roadbed of the railway ramp
Buchenwald Concentration CampHousing for German Shephard dogs of the SS (1938) Buchenwald Concentration CampHousing for German Shephard dogs of the SS (1938) Buchenwald Concentration CampHousing for German Shephard dogs of the SS (1938) Buchenwald Concentration CampInside the camp
Buchenwald Concentration CampInside camp. Most original buildings are gone. Buchenwald Concentration CampInside camp Buchenwald Concentration CampInside camp Buchenwald Concentration CampArtist Horst Hoheisel of Kassel and his monument to the original Buchenwald Memorial built by Camp survivors in April 1945.
Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument
Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument Buchenwald Concentration CampHoheisel's Monument
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Jewish memorial in three languages
Buchenwald Concentration Camp Jewish memorial in three languages Buchenwald Concentration Camp Jewish memorial in three languages Buchenwald Concentration CampBlock 8
Buchenwald Concentration CampBlock removed Buchenwald Concentration CampSinti and Roma Memorial at Buchenwald Buchenwald Concentration CampSinti and Roma Memorial at Buchenwald Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Sinti and Roma Memorial at Buchenwald
Buchenwald Concentration CampSinti and Roma Memorial Buchenwald Concentration CampSinti and Roma Memorial Buchenwald Concentration CampStorage house and latrine in foreground (inside restored brick) Buchenwald Concentration CampExplanation of Buchenwald Little Camp. Photo of inmates including Eli Wiesel at Liberation.
Buchenwald Concentration Camp Memorial to Victims in the Little Camp, Architect Steven B. Jacobs, New York Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Text about Little Camp
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Text about Little Camp
Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Little Camp detail and cities of origin of victims
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Little camp details and architects/sponsors
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Little camp details and architects/sponsors
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Little camp details and architects/sponsors
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Little camp details and architects/sponsors
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Little Camp memorial
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Pylons that held electric fence
Buchenwald Concentration CampRestoration work creates ethical question Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Latrine
Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners killed during the Soviet period of the camp, 1945-1950. Stainless steel poles commemorate each victim shot in the forest area. Each pole is numbered at the base. Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Memorial to Political Prisoners
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Memorial to Political Prisoners
Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners
Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners
Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to Political Prisoners
Buchenwald Concentration CampCrematorium Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to murdered Jews Buchenwald Concentration CampMemorial to murdered Jews Buchenwald Concentration CampSS baracks outside camp near entrance

Original Buchenwald Memorial Images

Buchenwald Concentration CampEntrance in form of a Greek Temple Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp
Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp Buchenwald Concentration CampSix Stellae describing Fascist (Nazi) cruelty in the camp
Buchenwald Concentration CampUrns and pedestels commemoration 17 countries of origin of victims Buchenwald Concentration CampFire pit Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Second fire pit and bell tower
Buchenwald Concentration Camp
Bell tower from below
Buchenwald Concentration CampSculpture of victims and partisan fighters at Bell Tower overlooks countryside near Weimar Buchenwald Concentration CampSculpture of victims and partisan fighters at Bell Tower overlooks countryside near Weimar Buchenwald Concentration CampSculpture of victims and partisan fighters at Bell Tower overlooks countryside near Weimar Buchenwald Concentration CampSculpture of victims and partisan fighters at Bell Tower overlooks countryside near Weimar

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For other monuments see: