Archaeology of Internment Camps in 20th Century Brandenburg

Crime, camps, and commemoration

Written by Thomas Kersting

64.8084.00

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ISBN: 9781407362830
BAR: S3243
84.00
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ISBN: 9781407362847
BAR: S3243E
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Description

In the area surrounding the former Nazi Reich capital Berlin, in the modern-day state of Brandenburg, its 20th century history of war and displacement is represented by two concentration camps (Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück), three large prisoner of war camps, several hundred satellite camps and even more “civilian” forced labour camps. Additionally, the Soviet Red Army had camps in the woods for their soldiers and repatriates. Today, the sites of these former camps are under the protection of state monument preservation. Finds at these often-forgotten sites present the legacies of both victims and perpetrators, and are increasingly essential to the remembrance of a dying generation of contemporary witnesses. This book presents a thorough contemporary archaeological investigation of these sites, including a comprehensive catalogue of sites in Brandenburg, discussion of the history of these camps, their locations and layout, objects from camps, life at the camps, and their commemoration.

About the Author

Thomas Kersting has worked for the Brandenburg State Office for Monument Preservation for 30 years, protecting numerous Nazi and WWII internment camp sites and curating the exhibition Exclusion (2020 to 2025).

Reviews

‘[T]his could prove a valuable introduction to this difficult topic without having to master a diversity of German-language sources. A most valuable collation and presentation of camp sites with descriptions and characteristics in the Catalogue – a really important work from this perspective.’ Professor Nicholas J Saunders, University of Bristol