Picture #1 of prisonersat work in Dachau Concentration Camp
Picture #2 of prisonersat work in Dachau Concentration Camp
In the early days of the Dachau ConcentrationCamp, prisoners were released after completing their sentence.Upon discharge, they were given the following instructions regardingwork after their release, according to a document on display atthe camp Museum, quoted below:
You should show that you are willing to work.In other words, we want to give you the opportunity to integratecompletely into the National German community.
You should display your willingness to workfor yourselves, your family and the whole German Nation. No onedemands of you that you become National Socialists; leave thatto us. We do however demand that you become 100% "Volksgenossen"!You should devote the whole of your energy and skills to yourallotted work. All employment is to be accepted even if it isnot commensurate with your previous occupation. Unemployment isunknown to us, on the contrary, we do not have enough workers.
Hunger and want do not exist outside. Everyoneearns according to his work, and in time each person will be assigneda position for which he is especially suited.
He who finds himself in need through no faultof his own, will be supported by the National Socialist charityorganizations (NSW, Wohlfahrt). These organizations are howeverunder no circumstances to be taken advantage of! Relaxation, entertainmentand diversion will be provided by the "KdF"-department(strength through joy). The law makes provision for and protectsthe right of workers to take a holiday. However, I wish to warnthose who think they can work against the wishes of the Germanpeople, or flee abroad and from there work against the Germans!We bring everyone back whether it be from another part of theReich or abroad, and no one escapes our punishment.
The individual is of no concern to us and thereforeit is unimportant whether anyone of them stays alive or not. Wewill achieve the goals which the Fuehrer has set us, despite theendeavors of these parasites. You may speak with no one aboutthe camp, neither positively or negatively. No one holds yourterm of confinement in the concentration camp against you. Weforbid you, however, to talk about any camp installations. Youare not to establish contact with any former prisoners or to deliverany messages, not even a harmless greeting.
Take these words to heart and act accordingly!If you fail to do so, you will be placed into protective custodyagain and this time for a period of years not months, and forsome there will be no freedom ever again. Re-imprisonment meansstricter confinement and you yourselves are best aware of whatthis means.
Go and work and labor diligently for the welfareof yourselves and your families and thereby for the benefit ofthe German people and its minorities.
Click on the first link below to go to a pictureof prisoners at work, and then click on that picture to see thesecond picture, or click on the picture above to skip these photosand continue the Virtual Tour.