Concentration camp cemetery Hurlach

From December 1944, the Kaufering IV camp was reclassified as a hospital camp. Concentration camp prisoners, who were no longer capable of work, were transferred by the SS from other camps of the Landsberg/Kaufering subcamp complex to Kaufering IV.

The concentration camp cemetery is located to the west of the Augsburger Strasse, the road leading out of the village. Quelle: Anton J. Brandl

Due to the absence of medical assistance and the appalling living conditions, many of the prisoners died. The SS had the dead buried in the Hurlach Heath. Today, both the Kaufering North and Kaufering South concentration camp cemeteries are to be found there.

The cemetery is laid out as a rectangle, surrounded by a low concrete wall. Source: Stiftung Bayerische Gedenkstätten/Rainer Viertlböck

In April 1945, Camp IV was evacuated because of the approaching American forces. The SS camp doctor, Dr. Max Blancke, then set fire to the subcamp. In and around the camp, the American soldiers found a total of 360 dead.

In the following days, the population of the surrounding villages and from Landsberg itself, were forced to bury the dead. The names and the places of origin of the Jewish victims are not known.

A photograph dating from 1950 shows the central memorial in the cemetery. Source: Stiftung Bayerische Gedenkstätten

From 1948, a concentration camp cemetery was laid out on the mass grave that was ceremonially dedicated on 1 October 1950.

The central memorial of the cemetery consists of a central stone flanked by two others. On the former, a Star of David is carved.

The inscriptions say:

Central stone:

ERECTED IN MEMORY OF 360 CONCENTRATION VICTIMS IN 1950

Left flanking stone:

YOU TRUDGED THROUGH A SEA OF MISERY

Right flanking stone:

NOW BE AT REST WITH GOD FOR EVER