Kinderlager Rühen, Children's camp in Rühen, Germany.
Kinderlager Rühen was a facility that housed children of forced laborers working at the Volkswagen factory from 1943 to 1945. The site consisted of several barracks designed to accommodate infants and young children while their parents were required to work.
The facility was established by Volkswagen GmbH in 1943 and operated until April 1945 when Allied forces advanced into the region. It was part of a system designed to house children of foreign workers who were employed under coercion.
The site now serves as a memorial location where annual commemorative events take place to honor the children who perished under the harsh conditions.
The site is accessible today as a memorial location and provides educational materials about the facility's history. Visitors should allow adequate time to explore the exhibition and barracks grounds thoroughly.
In August 1944, a severe intestinal illness broke out at the facility, causing approximately 60 infant deaths that month. This catastrophe highlights the devastating health conditions under which children were housed there.
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