in detail
The Laura concentration camp existed from September 1943 to April 1945 and was established in connection with the armaments factory “Vorwerk Mitte” and slate factory “Oertelbruch” in Schmiedebach (a testing site for fire rockets A4/V2). In 1956 a memorial stone was placed on the grounds of the former camp.
In 1965-68 the work group “young historians” from the Wurzbach school researched the history of the Laura concentration camp. On the basis of their research findings a documentation collection was set up in 1979 in a part of the shed that had served has prisoner housing. Part of the former camp grounds was designed as a site for commemoration.
In 1991-92 part of the memorial site was redesigned and extended. Through contact to former prisoners from different countries and their support, it was possible in recent years to conduct further research on the history of the “Laura” concentration camp and the armaments works and to continually add to the exhibition. With funding from the state and support from the Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora memorial sites, it was possible to incorporate a restored power plant of the A4 rockets into the exhibition.
The “Laura” concentration camp is the only subsidiary camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp in which the building structures are almost completely preserved.
Since November 1998, the work of memorial site as a historical educational site and as an international meeting place has been supported by the “Laura memorial site sponsor association.” It strives to bring life to the legacy of the victims of “Laura” for future generations.
1943-1945
The Laura concentration camp existed from September 1943 to April 1945 and was established in connection with the armaments factory
