Arms industry and forced labour in Nazi Dresden
The nazi “economy of destruction” transformed Dresden into an important site of armaments production for the unleashing, intensifying and continuation of the second world war. As early as 1934 the systematic consult of companies and businesses started in preparation of a planned war of aggression. In the end, more than 240 local businesses were directly involved with the arms program. Expropriation and exploitation through forced labour, performed by millions of imprisoned people, were significant pillars of the nazis economical und extermination practice.The walk of remembrance takes you through six stations of specific locations in Dresden and participants of the nazi war economy, in order to refute the legend of the “innocent art city”.
Students of the institute of history at the TU Dresden have compiled the writings, which will be read by actors.
In cooperation with:
Kulturverein Zentralwerk e.V.
Institut für Geschichte, TU Dresden
Staatsschauspiel Dresden
Stadtrundgang audioscript
Funded by:
Landeshauptstadt Dresden – Amt für Kultur und Denkmalschutz
Station 1 – Freight depot Neustadt – hub for armaments, deportations and forced labourers
The freight depot Dresden-Neustadt marks a central hub for the transport of arms-relevant materials and goods, which were produced and processed in the over 240 Dresden based businesses. Furthermore, this location was a starting point and stopover for deportations. From here, jews were taken to Riga, Theresienstadt and Auschwitz-Birkenau, as well as other ghettos and extermination camps on trains of the German Reichsbahn.
Station 2 – Expropriation of Jewish ownership, by the example of the Rheostat company
The term “Arisierung” indicates the millionfold exploitation of Jewish property by German companies and entrepreneurs with the help of the NS administration. One example for the expropriation of Jewish businesses is the Rheostat company, which was owned by the Kussy family. They were forced to sell their business for a ridiculous price and had to flee in 1939.
Station 3 – Forced labour at the Goehlewerk
Jews in Dresden were manufacturing ammunition and weapon components at the Goehlewerk of the Zeiss Ikon AG from 1941 until 1943 in forced labour. From 1944 on, forced labourers from the extermination camps Ravensbrück and Ausschwitz-Birkenau were forced to do this work. The circumstances were inhumane: 12 hour shifts without breaks, malnutrition and harassment dominated the day to day work. This makes the Goehlewerk a symbol of marginalisation and the economical exploitation of people during National Socialism.
Station 4 – Construction for war: The Goehlewerk between industrial architecture and homeland security
Construction of the Goehlewerk was determined by the two TH Dresden professors Emil Högg and Georg Rüth. The architect and the construction engineer were caught between technical innovation and nazi thinking under the dictatorship. This example shows the scope of action of technical elites and their involvement in the arms industry. It also raises the topic of the connection of architecture and technology with racist and national ideas of “homeland security”.
Station 5 – The Jewish forced labourers way to work
In the winter of 1942/43 the Jewish people, who were interned at Hellerberg, had to make their way to Goehlewerk on foot every single day. They also had to endure aggressions and harassment from civilians during this walk daily. This route to work shows the phases of the persecution of the Jews and its specific effects on them.
Station 6 – The “Judenlager Hellerberg”
The “Judenlager Hellerberg” (jews camp Hellerberg) existed from November 1942 until March 1943. During this time, approximately 280 people lived here. They were some of the last Jews in Dresden, that hadn’t been deported yet. The camp was managed by self-administration but the detainees had to pay costs for rent and groceries to the Zeiss-Ikon company. They were deported to Ausschwitz-Birkenau in March of 1943. Only ten people from the Hellerberg camp were alive during the liberation of the extermination camp in 1945.
