European Killing & Atrocity Centers

Hinzert was designated by the nazis to incarcerate what they termed "loafers" or persons brought in by the Bremen Gestapo. The term was a broadly defined one meant to superficially indicate 'vagabonds' or duty-shirkers, but was a bureaucratic way of handling 'arrests at discretion': this allowed the Gestapo to inter members of the Resistance Movement in Luxembourg, which were growing in opposition to the Nazis in large numbers in 1940. Hinzert was also a destination of the "Nacht und Nebel prisoners, for which all traces were lost.

Hinzert was in existence as a Gestapo Camp from 1942-1945. Over 1600 citizens of Luxembourg and the surrounding area were interred there.

A forced death March is recorded on 3-3-45, in which the remaining prisoners in Hinzert wer marched from the camp to upper Hessen. Slave labor, oppressive treatment, including 'pack-animal' teams of prisoners pulling heavy-laden carts, disease and starvation marked the camp as with many. Artist Arthur Michel recorded images from the camp as an internee, showing low level barracks, barren grounds, and a low lying electric fence in progressive rows preventing any escape. Hinzert served as a transit camp for prisoners on the way to Beech Forest camp Natzweiler and Dachau. While 313 deaths in the small camp are documented, many more were reported by former prisoners. Estimates of 11,500 to 13,500² persons passed through the camp during the war years. The memorial center there is now home to the National Center for Political Education.