Kriegsgefangenenlager Rheinberg, World War II prisoner camp in Rheinberg, Germany
Kriegsgefangenenlager Rheinberg was a 350-hectare facility surrounded by barbed wire fences, divided into eight separate sections for holding prisoners. The detained soldiers had access to no basic utilities or shelter structures.
The 106th US Infantry Division established this transit camp in 1945 to house German soldiers captured during the American push from Wesel toward the Elbe River. It served as a processing center for prisoners during the final stages of World War II.
Prisoners organized informal learning groups within the camp, where they shared knowledge and skills despite the harsh conditions surrounding them daily. These spontaneous networks helped many maintain their sense of dignity.
The site is marked today with memorial stones and informational markers, particularly near Annaberg cemetery. Local archives contain educational materials and historical records for those wishing to learn more.
Many prisoners dug holes in the ground for shelter against the weather, which caused injuries and drowning during heavy rainfall periods. These makeshift shelters reveal the extreme hardships the detainees faced.
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