Ebensee Concentration Camp

Key Points 

Establishment
Ebensee was established in November 1943 as a subcamp of Mauthausen, primarily to exploit the labor of prisoners in the construction of underground tunnels to produce aircraft engines and other military materials.

Location
The camp was located near the village of Ebensee, in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, situated near the Traunsee Lake.

Labor and Industry
Prisoners at Ebensee were forced to work in extreme conditions, constructing tunnels for the Heinkel aircraft factory. The labor was grueling and dangerous, often carried out without proper safety measures. Prisoners faced long hours with minimal food and inadequate clothing, leading to severe malnutrition and exhaustion.

Prisoner Population
The camp held a diverse group of prisoners, including Jews, political dissidents, Soviet POWs, Roma, and other targeted groups. At its peak, Ebensee housed approximately 20,000 prisoners.

Brutal Conditions
Conditions in Ebensee were harsh. Prisoners faced overcrowding, inadequate shelter, lack of food, and poor sanitation. Medical care was virtually nonexistent, and many prisoners suffered from infectious diseases.

Abuse and Executions
Inmates were subjected to extreme brutality from the guards, including physical abuse, torture, and summary executions. Many prisoners died from starvation, forced labor, or were killed outright.

Resistance
Despite the oppressive conditions, there were acts of resistance within Ebensee. Some prisoners attempted to escape, while others organized secret communications and support networks.

Liberation
Ebensee was liberated by American troops on May 6, 1945. Upon liberation, the soldiers found about 4,000 surviving prisoners, many of whom were in dire health due to the camp's brutal conditions.