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Buchenwald Memorial in Weimar, Thuringia, Germany — Central Europe
 

Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail

Postenweg der SS-Wachmannschaften

 
 
Map on Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Buchenwald Memorial Foundation, undated
1. Map on Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker
Inscription.

Measuring three kilometres in length, the asphalt-covered guard path was an important element of the concentration camp surveillance system. At night, after the SS had left the camp, guards patrolled between the twenty-two watchtowers located along the path at intervals of about one hundred metres. Every morning before the work gangs marched out through the camp gate, the guard path was expanded to form a "big sentry line" comprising over fifty double sentries and surrounding the camp, the SS facilities and the various inmate labour sites. No inmate ever succeeded in breaking through the ring consisting of a "neutral zone," electric barbed-wire fencing and the guard path. In the course of the years, hundreds of inmates were shot to death in the vicinity of the "big sentry line."

The guard path began at the camp gate, followed the route of a Baroque-period hunting lane ("Time Lane"), led past the SS dog kennels and on to its northern-most point within sight of the neighbouring village, then past the workshops and back to the camp gate.
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Der drei Kilometer lange, asphaltierte Postenweg diente der Bewachung des Konzentrationslagers. Nachts, wenn die SS das Lager verließ, patroullierten Posten zwischen den 22 Wachtürmen, die im Abstand von etwa hundert Metern
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am Wege standen. Morgens, bevor die Kolonnen durch das Lagertor zogen, wurde der Postenweg zur „Großen Postenkette” erweitert, die aus über fünfzig Doppelposten bestand und das Lager, die SS-Einrichtungen und die Arbeitsplätze der Häftlinge bis zum Abend weiträumig umschloß. Nie ist es einem Häftling gelungen, den Ring aus „neutraler Zone”, elecktrisch geladenem Stacheldraht und Postenweg zu durchbrechen. Im Laufe der Jahre wurden Hunderte von Häftlingen im Bereich der „Großen Postenkette” erschossen.

Der Postenweg begann am Lagertor, verlief auf der Linie einer barocken Jagdschneise („Zeitschneise”), führte an den Hundezwingern der SS vorüber, näherte sich am nördlichsten Ende auf Sichtweite dem benachbarten Dorf, führte an den Werkstätten entlang und schloß sich wieder am Lagertor.
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[French and Russian text not transcribed]
 
Erected by Buchenwald Memorial Foundation.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made FeaturesWar, World II. In addition, it is included in the The Holocaust series list.
 
Location. 51° 1.267′ N, 11° 14.812′ E. Marker is in Buchenwald Memorial, Thüringen (Thuringia), in Weimar
Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker Detail image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2013
2. Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker Detail
. Follow the signs. Site is approximately 10 km NW of Weimar, off Blutstraße, west of Ettersburger Straße (L1054). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Buchenwald Memorial TH 99427, Germany. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Camp Fence and the Watchtowers 3, 4 and 5, April 1945 (here, next to this marker); SS Guard Detail Splinter Protection Trench (here, next to this marker); Soviet Prisoners of War Memorial (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Soviet Prisoners of War / Sowjetische Kriegsgefangene (about 150 meters away); Gate building / Torgebäude (about 150 meters away); Dog Compound / Hundezwinger (about 150 meters away); Sinti and Roma Memorial / Sinti und Roma Denkmal (about 180 meters away); SS Guard Detachment Barracks (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buchenwald Memorial.
 
Also see . . .
1. Buchenwald Memorial Official Site. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Buchenwald in USHMM Holocaust Encyclopedia. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Buchenwald: History & Overview. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. Buchenwald Concentration Camp. (Submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
 
Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2013
3. Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker
Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2013
4. Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail Marker
To right of Guard Tower
Camp Perimeter Fence Detail image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2013
5. Camp Perimeter Fence Detail
Electric wire insulators and barbed wire on fence post
Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2013
6. Guard Path of the SS Guard Detail
Looking NNW along camp perimeter from Guard Tower
Camp Perimeter Fence image. Click for full size.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2013
7. Camp Perimeter Fence
Looking east toward Gate House entrance
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 357 times since then. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 6, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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Mar. 18, 2024