List of wild concentration camps


This is a list of concentration camps established independently by Nazi-affiliated groups and organizations before the process was centralized by Heinrich Himmler in 1934. These camps were established in a variety of usually abandoned buildings, including workhouses, factories, cellars, and taverns to imprison mostly political prisoners. They are known as "wild" concentration camps due to their ad-hoc nature and lack of oversight. The 1933 Schutzhaft Protective Custody Order was the main pretense for interning German citizens in wild concentration camps.
NameEstablishedDisestablishedFormer usage
Breslau-Dürrgoy concentration camp12 March 193310 August 1933Fertilizer factory
Oranienburg concentration camp21 March 19334 July 1934Disused brewery
Hainichen concentration camp4 April 193313 June 1933Sports center
Börgermoor concentration camp22 June 1933May 1934Part of the Prussian Emslandlager system
Esterwegen concentration camp20 June 1933Summer 1936Part of the Prussian Emslandlager system
Neusustrum concentration camp1 September 1933April 1945Part of the Prussian Emslandlager system
Vulkanwerft concentration camp20 October 193311 March 1934Shipyards
Columbia-HausJuly 19335 November 1936Military police station
Dachau concentration camp9 March 193329 April 1945Gunpowder and munitions Factory
Sonnenburg3 April 193323 April 1934Former Prison
Nohra3 March 1933UnknownSchool
AhrensbökOctober 3, 1933May 1934Residential Building for a Sugar Factory
Alt Daber28 April 1933July 1933Children's Home and Sanatorium
Bad SulzaOctober 1933July 1937Old Hotel
Brandenburg Euthanasia CentreAugust 1933February 1934State Welfare Institute
Börnicke1 June 1933UnknownFormer Cement Factory
Breitenau concentration campJune 19332 September 1945Residence
Kemna concentration camp5 July 193319 January 1934Textile Factory