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Dachau was the first KZ established by the NAZIs and served as a model for the vast network of KZs that the NAZIs were to establish first in Germany and later in the occupied countries. The fire in the German "Reichstag" on February 27, 1933 was the perfect pretext for the NAZIs to strike at their political opponents. Some even believe that the NAZIs were responsible for setting the fire. Hermann Göring immediately acussed the Communists of setting the fire. Göring as Prussian Secretary of the Interior (Police) ordered the SA and SS to arrest first Communists and then Social Democrats (Socialists) and union members. SS leader Heinrich Himmler sought political opponents in other German Landen. Soon German prisons were filled to over flowing with 'protective detainees', as the NAZIs called their prisoners. State Commissary of the Interior, Adolf Wagner adviced his colleague Hans Frank of further options such as concentration camps (March 13, 1933). Himmler announced the establishment of a 'concentration camp' (March 20). Dachau was not opened secretly. Himmler made the announcement at a press conference indicating that it would have a capacity of 5,000 prisoners. The site chosen was a former ammunition factory near Dachau. Two days after Himmler announced the opening of the camp, the first group of prisoners were Communists and Social Democrats arrived (March 22). At first the guards were Bavarian State Police. When Himmler was made Political Police Commander of Bavaria (April 1, 1933), he immediately moved to take control of Dachau. SS guards replaced the police (April 11). Himmler appointed Theodor Eicke as commandant. Eicke set about creating detailed regulations for Dacau's operation. They covered the most minute details of camp life. Himmler obviusly impresed with Eicke's work at Dacau, subsequently appointed him Inspector General for NAZI concentration camps, the regulations he drew up for Dacau were widely followed at other NAZI camps, although there were a variety of local variations. One reason why Dachau was not a secret is that Hitler and Himmler not only wanted to deal with individuals, but they wanted to ensure that the many Germans who had not voted for the NAZIs or even opposed them would comply with the New Order. And unlike many camps, large numbers of Dachau inmates were eventually released. Many people were killed or allowed to die at Dacau as a result of abuse and mistreatment. Dachau was, however, operated as labor camp and the SS exploited their work. Inmates who were unable to work were sytematically killed. Dachau was not, however, a death camp. The industrial killing as done elsewhere at the purpose built death camps. Over 0.2 million people were officially registered s Dachau internees. This may not include those who arrived in the chsotic last months of the War. Some 80-90 percent were eventually released. Dachau did have a role in the early phase of the Holocaust. Many Jews were interned there and forced to turn over their property. Terrible medical experiments were carried out at Dachau during the War. In the final months of the War as the SS began closing camps to the East, large numbers of inmates including many Jews were brought to Dachau and conditions steadily deteriorated. SS policy was to prevent camp inmates from falling into Allied hands. As the Americans approached Dachau, the SS began marching prisoners out (April 26). They did not have tome, howevr, to empty it. The American 7th Army liberated Dachu (April 29). NAZI records indicated that nearly 32,000 people died at Dachau. We re not sure how accurate the records are. Theu do not include over 4,000 inmates were so dehhibilated by encarceration that they were removed and killed elewhere. Over 4,000 sick inmates were killed by poison gas at Hartheim Castle near Linz.
Hitler could not create a dictatorial police state within the bojunds of German law and established prison system. He needed to go beyond the law and use extra-legal means. Dacau would be the beginning of this terrible process. Dachau was the first KZ established by the NAZIs and served as a model for the vast network of KZs that the NAZIs were to establish first in Germany and later in the occupied countries.
The fire in the German "Reichstag" on February 27, 1933 was the perfect pretext for the NAZIs to strike at their political opponents. Some even believe that the NAZIs were responsible for setting the fire. Hermann Göring immediately acussed the Communists of setting the fire. Göring as Prussian Secretary of the Interior (Police) ordered the SA and SS to arrest first Communists and then Social Democrats (Socialists) and union members. SS leader Heinrich Himmler sought political opponents in other German Landen. Soon German prisons were filled to over flowing with 'protective detainees', as the NAZIs called their prisoners.
State Commissary of the Interior, Adolf Wagner adviced his colleague Hans Frank of further options such as concentration camps (March 13, 1933). Himmler announced the establishment of a 'concentration camp' (March 20). Dachau was not opened secretly. Himmler made the announcement at a press conference indicating that it would have a capacity of 5,000 prisoners. The site chosen was a former ammunition factory near Dachau.
Two days after Himmler announced the opening of the camp, the first group of prisoners were Communists and Social Democrats arrived (March 22).
At first the guards were Bavarian State Police. When Himmler was made Political Police Commander of Bavaria (April 1, 1933), he immediately moved to take control of Dachau. SS guards replaced the police (April 11).
Himmler appointed the brutal Hilmar Wäckerle to be the first commandant at Dachau. He then appointed the even more important Theodor Eicke as the second commandant. Eicke set about creating detailed regulations for Dacau's operation. They covered the most minute details of camp life. Himmler obviusly impresed with Eicke's work at Dacau, subsequently appointed him Inspector General for NAZI concentration camps, the regulations he drew up for Dacau were widely followed at other NAZI camps, although there were a variety of local variations asindividual commandants had considerable leeway.
Dachau was important because it was the template for the NAZI concentratioin camp dsystem. One reason why Dachau was not a secret is that Hitler and Himmler not only wanted to deal with individuals, but they wanted to ensure that the many Germans who had not voted for the NAZIs or even opposed them would comply with the New Order. And unlike many camps, large numbers of Dachau inmates were eventually released.
Dachau was not a death camp, although many died there. The horrors unleased by the NAZIs would begin here. Many people were killed or allowed to die at Dacau as a result of abuse and mistreatment. Dachau was, however, operated as labor camp and the SS exploited their work. Inmates who were unable to work were sytematically killed. Dachau was not, however, a death camp. The industrial killing as done elsewhere at the purpose built death camps.
Over 0.2 million people were officially registered s Dachau internees. This may not include those who arrived in the chsotic last months of the War. Some 80-90 percent were eventually released. NAZI records indicated that nearly 32,000 people died at Dachau. We are not sure how accurate the records are. Theu do not include over 4,000 inmates who were so dehhibilated by encarceration that they were removed and killed elewhere. Over 4,000 sick inmates were killed by poison gas at Hartheim Castle near Linz.
A brave procecuor and a brave doctor stood up to the NAZIs. They attempted to stop the flagerent violation of German law and the murder of camp inmates by procecuting the guards. The first four Jews killed by the NAZI regime were murdered st Dchau. Josef Hartinger in the state (Bavarian) procecutor's office tried to have the murers arrested and tried. Dr. Moritz Flamm's testimony showed that the murderers were lieing. He submitted detailed evidence after examining the corpses. Artinger's efforts failed as he found no support ithin the Bavarian Government and the pace of killing in Dachau escalated. [Ryback]
Dachau did have a role in the early phase of the Holocaust. Many Jews were interned there and forced to turn over their property. In the final months of the War as the SS began closing camps to the East, large numbers of inmates including many Jews were brought to Dachau and conditions steadily deteriorated.
Terrible medical experiments were carried out at Dachau during the War.
SS policy was to prevent cemp inmate from falling into Allied hands. As the Americans approached Dachau, the SS began marching prisoners out (April 26). They did not have time, however, to empty it. The American 7th Army liberated Dachu (April 29).
Ryback, Timothy W. Hitler's First Victims: The Quest for Justice (2014), 288p.
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