Heimkehrerlager Gronenfelde, Transit camp in Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany
Heimkehrerlager Gronenfelde was a processing facility for German prisoners returning from Soviet camps, with multiple barracks, administrative buildings, and medical stations organized around a central area. The layout allowed staff to efficiently manage the arrival and registration of thousands of people.
The facility was built after 1945 and served between 1947 and 1950 to process over one million German prisoners returning from Soviet captivity. It was part of a larger network of camps that enabled the return and reintegration of millions of Germans following the war.
The camp maintained detailed documentation of each returnee through registration cards, medical records, and discharge certificates for historical preservation.
The site is today mainly accessible as a memorial and requires time to explore the different areas and exhibitions. A guided tour on site helps to better understand the complex history and how the camp operated.
The site offers a virtual reconstruction that guides visitors through the processing procedures and camp conditions. This digital representation helps people understand the spatial organization and daily operations, even though little physical remains.
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