Buying ring to get a documentary centre

The former branch of the Dachau concentration camp near Landsberg is for the Public only limited access. For years, a fight over the future of the camp. Now this movement comes in the matter of: The state, the Greens want to learning on the camp grounds a "memorial and information centre". the Thomas Balbierer, Landsberg

As a group of Holocaust survivors with children and grandchildren in 2005, the Remains of the concentration camp Kaufering VII wanted to visit, were the guests from Israel in the rain in front of locked gates. Also, Shimon Stein, former Israeli Ambassador in Germany, came to the former concentration camp grounds. There are two episodes written by the country Berger is a historian Edith Raim, who bring the Dilemma from camp VII to the point: the Outpost of The Dachau concentration camp near Landsberg is for the Public only limited access. Commemoration and remembrance. The historical site was "not in a visiting condition," writes Raim in her essay "the Failure of the commemorative initiatives. The examples of Kaufering and Landsberg". Raim is at the University of Augsburg.

according to Manfred Deiler, President of the European Holocaust memorial Foundation of the plot of land southwest is part of the Landsberg, is set to change this condition. He wishes that the former KZ-camp is converted into a documentation centre. For years the debate about the future of camp VII, It's all about the money. "Decisions have been put off," complains Deiler. Historian Raim criticized the state for "offender" places like the Obersalzberg, or the Nuremberg Nazi party rally grounds, many millions of expenditure, "victim" places such as the camp Kaufering ignored.

prisoners toiled in the underground arms bunkers

Now is starting to move again in the matter. The state Greens have tabled an amendment in the education Committee, in calling on the state government to support Deilers Foundation in the development of a scientific concept financially. The policy had to be pressed for too long, "the question of whether the Opferort is to be developed further", says Green MEP Gabriele Triebel. She is also the Second mayor of the city of Kaufering. The Greens want to learning on the camp grounds a "memorial and information centre".

The KZ-purchase the outdoor complex, a ring was formed in the summer of 1944, and consisted of a total of eleven bearings. Up to April 1945, mainly Jews from across Europe had him, Raim, between 20 000 and 30 000 people to go through. "Due to the miserable living and working conditions, were killed between a third and half of all deportees," writes the historian. The prisoners toiled in the underground arms bunkers and were billeted in the vaults, in Dugouts and pipes made of clay.

The former subcamp Kaufering VII, which lies to the southwest of Landsberg.

(photo: Manfred Deiler/European Holocaust memorial Foundation)

After the end of the war was not taken into consideration is the place long the district office planned for a long time to blow up the warehouse. It was only in the eighties, the history teacher Anton Posset aroused the interest of the former concentration camp. With students, he took part in a history competition, and explored the camp of Kaufering. Posset, coined in consequence of the work-up of the country, Berger's Nazi past, established the current Foundation, but was also a lot of people in front of the head. 2015 Anton Posset died.

He was a "mighty man," says his former student Gabriele Triebel. Some opponents had seen him as a "traitor", because he studied for many Landsberger unpleasant NS-time. But also the story of standing in the rain left the visitors from Israel who happened to be his time. Historian Raim also been informed of Posset, believes the lack of recognition got him frustrated. Nevertheless, the work of the history teacher bore fruit: in 1983, the pipes made of clay bunkers were placed under monument protection, five years later the first monument was erected.

Up to the Remains of camp VII is not stayed by the outdoor complex ring purchase much. The Federal government classified the place as a "monument of national importance" and issued for the conservation of 700 000 euros. Now the next step needs to be done, says Foundation President Deiler. Scientists should work out how you can professionalise the commemorative work there. Without financial help the country is not possible. So far, Volunteers organize guided tours through the camp. Viewings are only possible after agreement, information boards and paths are missing. "The volunteers have done, what is possible," says historian Raim. "Now, the state funds need to go."

Between 2017 and 2018, a working group under the chairmanship of the former Minister of Science, Thomas Goppel (CSU), a concept for the concentration camp advised already-outside the camp. In terms of camp VII, the Committee has delivered no concrete results, the Committee for education and culture deals with it. The application of the Green Gabriele Triebel has taken for the time being, from the agenda to allow Committee colleagues can incorporate into the theme. It is planned, among other things, a visit to the site.

For the state government, the members of the CSU Ute Eiling-Hütig, as Rapporteur, responsible. Also of it depends on how the future of camp VII will look like. Whether you support the plans for a documentation centre, does not want to Eiling comment-Hütig at the moment. "Exactly how a solution looks like, I can not say at present," says the CSU politician. You still need time to form a "final opinion". But also your is important, that visitors of the place "to get a sense of how it was back then," says Eiling-Hütig. "You have to do something."

To party politics, it's not, go to this thing anyway, emphasises Manfred Deiler. "It would go to people." Everything he hoped for, is certainty for the memorial and its organization. For many Holocaust survivors, a documentary centre, however, would "much too late", says Edith Raim. "Who of the Survivors is still there?" That as long as nothing happened that was "just bitter".