LEIPZIG-THEKLA (“EMIL,” “E,” “ENGELSDORF “)

In the spring of 1943, a subcamp of Buchenwald was created 1.6 kilometers (1.0 mile) northeast of Leipzig in the suburb of Thekla to provide labor to the aircraft manufacturer Erla-Werke on Theklär Engelsdorferstrasse. The work detail (Kommando) was code-named “Emil” or “E” in Buchenwald administrative records, and beginning in July 1944, the name “Engelsdorf “ was also associated with the camp. Like other firms that exploited prisoner labor to meet increasing armaments needs, Erla-Werke hired out inmates from the SS-Business Administration Main Office (WVHA) at a cost of 6 Reichsmark (RM) per skilled laborer per day and 4 RM per unskilled laborer per day. As of December 1944, Erla employed 2,445 skilled workers and 21,246 unskilled workers.1 However, the subcamp inmates were not compensated for their labor. Beginning in March and April 1943, inmates were transported to the Leipzig camp from the Buchenwald main camp.2 As noted in telegrams dated March 12, 1943, 65 prisoners were put...