Natzweiler-Struthof camp prison
The photo above was taken from inside
one of the cells in the camp prison at Natzweiler Struthof. It
shows the open door of a regular cell and in the background,
across the hall, one can see a small cell where prisoners were
kept in the dark for three days, without being able to stand
up or lie down.
The photo below shows the inside of the
small cell, which is no bigger than a closet and only about four
feet high. The doors of these cells are made of metal. An air
hole can be seen on the left wall of the cell.
At the entrance to the prison block,
there is a sign which explains the degrees of punishment at Natzweiler:
1. First degree
During three days, wooden bunk in a light
cell, bread and water.
2. Second Degree
Up to forty-two days: wooden bunk, dark
cell, bread and water (normal food every four days only).
3. Third degree
Up to three days, no possibility to sit
or lie down in a cell, bread and water.
The photo below shows a door to a "third
degree" cell between the doors of two regular cells. Note
the peephole in the door of the regular cell and a Christian
cross underneath it. On the extreme left of the photo is a round,
black light switch for the regular cell which was lighted. The
"third degree" cells had no light.
The photo above shows the whipping block.
This device was used in all the Nazi concentration camps. Prisoners
were forced to bend over this block while they received 25 blows
from a whip. All punishments had to be approved by the central
office in Oranienburg. Prisoners were punished for such offenses
as sabotage in the factories or stealing the food of other inmates.
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