Subcamp Fliegerhorst Penzing

The Fliegerhorst Penzing airfield subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp existed from 14 July 1944 until 24 April 1945. Despite its physical proximity, it did not belong to the Landsberg/Kaufering subcamp complex.

A memorial plaque at the former accommodation site for concentration camp prisoners provides information about the former Penzing subcamp. Source: G. Roletscheck

In July 1944, the first prisoner transport arrived at the Penzing airfield with approximately 350 French resistance fighters. The concentration camp prisoners were accommodated in the airfield’s gymnasium. At the beginning of April 1945, a further transport with 274 Jewish concentration camp prisoners arrived from subcamps that had been evacuated. The prisoners were used for the construction of the extension of the take-off and landing runways.

After two previous commandants, SS Hauptscharführer (senior warrant officer) Wilhelm Wagner took over command at the end of 1944. Under his command, the working and living conditions of the concentration camp prisoners worsened considerably: Working and roll calls were lengthened, work performance scrutinised more precisely and rewards reduced.

At the end of April 1945, the prisoners were brought to subcamp Kaufering I, where they joined the death march towards Dachau.

Wilhelm Wagner was indicted in the same year in the Dachau main process and executed on 29 May 1946 in the Landsberg prison.

Between 1958 and 2018, the airfield was used by the German air force. Since 1995, the prisoners of the former subcamp have been remembered by a memorial plaque on the gymnasium.