Bremen-Uphusen

At the suggestion of Bremen's Senator for Construction, the SS approved the establishment of a branch of the Bremen-Obernheide satellite camp in Uphusen in October 1944. To reduce transport efforts, the female prisoners were to be housed in a hut directly adjacent to the grounds of the company Rodiek, for whom they were going to work. But it was early 1945 before the hut on the company grounds was completed and a commando was transferred to the site. Most of the 100 Jewish women from Hungary who were housed in Uphusen from 7 February 1945 were forced to make concrete for Rodiek, among other things. Other prisoners were deployed to Uesen to construct makeshift homes for the company Diedrich Rohlfs.

On 4 April 1945, the SS cleared the camp. The women had to march to Uesen, where they encountered prisoners from the Bremen-Obernheide satellite camp. They continued on foot with these prisoners to an area near Verden, where the SS crammed them into open goods cars. After travelling aimlessly for days, the train arrived at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp probably on 8 April.

Period

7 February to 4 April 1945

Number of Prisoners

100-200

Kind of Work

Production of pre-fabricated concrete components

Labor on Behalf of

Bremen City Council, Rodiek

Location

Directions

From Bundesautobahn A 1 (motorway), take the Uphusen/Bremen-Mahndorf exit and follow Uphusener Heerstraße in the direction of Achim. After about 800 metres, turn left onto Bruchweg, 28832 Achim, Germany.

Memorial

In the summer of 1991, at the initiative of the Geschichtswerkstatt Achim e. V. (a regional history association in the city of Achim), a monument was erected on Bruchweg bearing the following inscription: "The Uphusen slave labour camp, a satellite camp of Neuengamme concentration camp holding 100 Jewish women, was located here in 1945. In memory of the victims of fascism – a warning to us all."

Contact

Geschichtswerkstatt Achim
Mohnblumenweg 15
28832 Achim
Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 4202 – 7 18 05
Email: info@geschichtswerkstatt-achim.de
Homepage: www.geschichtswerkstatt-achim.de