Für das Erinnern
Waldlager 5/6
The few surviving remains of Waldlager 5/6 have allowed researchers to partially reconstruct the camp layout. Waldlager 5/6 used up virtually the entire forest known as Roter Steig and was square shaped. The still visible deep holes of the barbed wire fences have given researches the size of the camp: 375 x 450 meters. For camouflage purposes, this specific site was chosen for the camp because of the tall tress that would provide excellent cover from Allied airplanes. Waldlager 5/6 was located precisely 2 km from the bunker construction site. The workshops were located in Ampfing and prisoners were marched back and forth daily.
The camp was originally built for summer standards, but conversions to cope with the winters took place in late fall of 1944 on the eastern part of the camp. During the winter, inmates were transferred to the winter section. However, functionary rooms like the kitchen, deleicing station and mortuary remained open in the summer section of the camp. Measures were taken with the barbed wire fence to prevent locals from seeing into the camp. To prevent and discourage escapes, the barbed wire fence was dug deep into the ground making escapes by means of underground-dug tunnels impossible. The camp was surrounded by a double-layer of barbed wire fencing with 1.50 meters in-between the two fences, which were referred to by the SS guards as “freies Schussfeld” (shoot at will). Powerful search lamps illuminated the camp at night and SS guards patrolled the grounds. On each of the four corners of the camp were towers manned by SS guards with machine guns.
The SS barracks, about six of them, were located across from the entrance to the summer camp in the northwest sector of the forest called Tafelweg. To protect the SS guards from possible enemy air attacks, ditches were located were dug around the SS sector of the camp where one could take quick shelter. The winter camp was also shut off by its own barbed wire fence as were the female section of the camp as well as sickbay.
A light rail track ran through the camp to aid in the transportation of gravel resources from a nearby pit. The SS had also begun in the building of concrete structures, which the remains showcase today. 1 km southwest o the Waldlager is a forest section known as Kronprinzstein where 20 meter deep pits were located: mass graves for the dead from Waldlager and Mettenheim.
Life for a camp inmate was extremely primitive. In the summer camp, inmates had slept in so-called Finnenzelte which measured 5 x 5 meters and were filled with straw. These Finnenzelte were constructed out of wood and painted dark green. The only source of natural light was available when the doors were opened, so each Finnenzelt came with an electric lamp mounted at the center of the hut. Spread out through the entire camp were eleven latrines, some of which have survived until this day.
Inmates had no means of heating inside the Finnenzelts during the winter months, so the SS ordered the construction of Erdhuetten (mud huts). As primitive as it may sound, the mud huts were praised by some survivors as being effective in keeping out the cold and keeping in the heat. The construction of the mud huts was quite simple. A piece of land measuring 6 x 8 meters was selected. An 8 meter long, 2 meter wide and 1 meter deep access walk was dug into the forest floor and occupied the center of the mud hut. To the right and left of this creation were 40 cm deep, 2 meter long sleep outlets filled with straw. Each Erdhuette offered space for 20 inmates. The general shape of the hut was then built with wood and then covered with cardboard and mud. Interestingly enough, these mud huts were also equipped with a stove and chimney allowing inmates to heat their hut and keep warm. In the eastern sector of Waldlager 5/6, five to six Erdhuetten were built next to each other and in rows of ten. More mud huts were constructed in other parts of the forest.
The water supply situation proved difficult in the first months as no water pipes had been laid down. Water had to be driven to the camp by trucks until water pipes were finally constructed to take over this task.