Drütte concentration camp

The first concentration camp in the Salzgitter area was constructed beneath the “Reichswerke” flyover road in October 1942. The inmates were brought here from all over Europe. They had been arrested by the SS as political opponents, homosexuals, so-called “anti-social elements” and “criminals”, or for a variety of racial or religious reasons. By December 1944, over 3 000 men were accommodated here crammed into the four barrack buildings of Drütte concentration camp. Most of the inmates worked on the final assembly of 8.8cm-calibre anti-aircraft munitions that bore the codename “Aktion 88”.