The death marches

During the summer of 1944, as the Allies advanced in the west and the Soviets advanced in the east, the Germans lost more and more control of their territory. That is why the Nazis started a forced evacuation of the concentration camps, because of the possibility that these camps could be liberated by the allied forces. The inmates were evacuated by train or had to go on foot to other camps or regions. By doing this, the Nazis tried to conceal or minimize the atrocities they had committed there.

The concentration camp of Flossenburg was also cleared. The first column of prisoners that set off were Russian POW and Jewish inmates. All POW were later found dead.

Later on, other columns followed. All prisoners had to gather on the roll call ground, where they were given another - red - number. Those who received this red number were bound to die, but no prisoner was aware of this, of course. Each column that left, headed for a different direction, depending on the front line at that time.

Once the column moved, the prisoners had to endure the real hell. They had to walk in a strict pace. Most prisoners, however, were completely exhausted because of malnutrition and mistreatment. They received but two or three uncooked potatoes and a small chunk of bread. It was strictly forbidden to rest. Inmates who fell or dared to sit down on the road side, were shot immediately. Some prisoners witnessed how some people tried to follow the column on all fours, that strong was their will to survive. Nevertheless, this couldn't prevent them from dying, because those inmates who were caught up with by the last guards, were ruthlessly killed. Some of these killed inmates were buried rashly.

During the marches, the Nazis tried to avoid villages. When they weren't able to do this, the column had to run through the village, which caused the weakest prisoners to fall and being shot. They didn't want any body being left behind in the villages, because this would only witness of their atrocity.

The villagers were told that a column of dangerous criminals would pass through the village. It was strictly prohibited for them to leave their houses or give something to the prisoners. Those who ignored this, risked being punished severely.

All prisoners had to march till late in the evening. One of the possible sleeping places were meadows. Even sleeping was a torture for many inmates, since they had to take care of it that they could sleep with two or three other people, in order to be able to survive the night. When the signal for departure was given in the early morning, many people were left behind, passed away because of the cold or being murdered.

These apocalyptical circumstances continued until they reached another camp or stopped when no one survived. Luckily, the allied forces (90th US Infantry Division) were able to trace the death columns by following the many bodies along the way.

Nevertheless, once the inmates were liberated, they were left to their own devices during the first days and weeks. Many people died thereafter because they ate too much.

The bodies were collected and the inhabitants of several villages - young and old - were forced to watch the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Later on, the local population had to take care of the bodies and they had to give those who died during the death marches a last resting place.