Lager IV Walchum

History (info: Wikipedia)

Camp Walchum was established in May 1935 in Emsland. The camp was supposed to be able to accommodate five hundred people. In September 1939, the possible occupancy was increased to one thousand people. As an Emslandlager, the camp is known as Lager IV Walchum. The camp is not included in the official German list of concentration camps. From 1942, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) housed deserters and conscientious objectors in Walchum. Czechs, Poles and French were also housed there. In February 1945, there were still 167 prisoners in the camp. At the beginning of April, the prisoners were transferred to camp Aschendorfermoor.

Conditions

During the war, the conditions for the prisoners, from 1942 military convicts, became increasingly worse. They had to work at least twelve hours a day, hygiene was poor and there was a shortage of food.

After the war

According to the official figures, 72 people died, but the actual figure is probably higher. The registered dead are buried in the cemetery of Bockhorst / Esterwegen. A row of chestnut trees is still reminiscent of the camp. There is a small monument in memory of the victims at the former camp.

https://www.gedenkstaette-esterwegen.de/geschichte/die-emslandlager/iv-walchum.html

Tuesday 23rd July 2024

Info panels at the former campsite