in detail
Because in 1933 "Fort Oberer Kuhberg" (built 1842-1857) stood empty in accordance with the Versailles Peace Treaty (1919), the National Socialists chose it as the location for the second concentration camp in Württemberg.
The Oberer Kuhberg Concentration Camp existed from November 1933 to July 1935. A total of 800 male political and ideological opponents of the regime (men only) were imprisoned there. The most well-known prisoner was Kurt Schuhmacher, the first chairman of the postwar SPD. A few Württemberg Jews whose names are not known were also incarcerated there because of their political activities against the Nazi regime. The aim of this concentration camp, which existed during the early years of the regime when the party was still securing its newly appropriated power, was to isolate and debase its opponents, but also to repress any further potential for protest among the Württemberg inhabitants.
From 1935 to 1945 the fort was used for various purposes including an army base, an armaments production site, and a prisoner of war camp. After 1945 the fort provided housing for refugees and functioned as a restaurant. In 1960 it was declared an historical monument. Since 1965 the grounds and buildings have been shared by two organizations: one is concerned with the military history of the site ("Förderverein Bundesfestung Ulm"), the other with the history of the concentration camp ("Dokumentationszentrum Oberer Kuhberg").
The concentration camp memorial museum is singular in that its grounds and buildings are, for the most part, in the original condition in which they existed as a concentration camp. In addition, there is a permanent exhibition about the concentration camp history.
The organization which has overseen the memorial since 1977 grew out of an association of concentration camp survivors from Württemberg which was formed in 1948 ("Lagergemeinschaft Heuberg-Kuhberg-Welzheim"). The activities of the documentation center include providing exhibits, tours and special events for the 10,000 visitors who come to the memorial each year. Also the staff collects, preserves and publishes documentation pertaining to the history of the concentration camp and to National Socialism in the region of Ulm and New Ulm.
1933-1935
The Württemberg state concentration camp "Oberer Kuhberg" for political and ideological opponents,s situated on the rooms of "Fort Oberer Kuhberg".
1935-1945
An armaments production site and a prisoner of war camp
1948
Establishment of the "Heuberg-Kuhberg-Welzheim camp community" made up of survivors of the Württemberg KZs
1969
Demand for a concentration camp memorial site in the Fort Oberer Kuhberg with the first planning concept
1977
Establishment of a sponsor associatoion for the concentration camp memorial site
1985
Opening of the first permanent exhibition
2001
A new permanent exhbition with an educational and didactical new design of the memorial
Ulm, May 1, 1934, The entrance to the headquarters of the Ulm concentration camp, Documentation Center and Concentration Camp Memorial.
Ulm, 1994, Concentration camp survivor, Hans Gasparitsch (1918-2002), during a tour of the memorial, Documentation Center and Concentration Camp Memorial.
