Early camps in Germany were controlled by different groups in different parts of the country, with different structures and conditions in each. Their first move in consolidating control over the camps in the Third Reich was to shut down SA camps, such as Oranienburg. Camps that had not been shut down were re-organised in line with the Dachau model, and any SA, police, or civilian guards were dismissed and replaced with SS soldiers.
This section will explore how the SS developed the notorious Nazi concentration camps from onwards, who they imprisoned, and how the inmates lived. Whilst this section aims to give an overview of the SS concentration camp system, it is important to note that not all camps had the same, or similar, practices.
Even within the punitive atmosphere of the camps, there were lots of variations. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was opened in Here, prisoners perform forced labour at the camp.
By , the camps had secured central funding from the Reich budget, rather than their previous reliance on regional budgets. On 17 June , Himmler was appointed Chief of Police giving him unrestricted control of all police forces in Germany. The SS soon began building new, large, permanent, purpose-built camps. Sachsenhausen was opened in , and was swiftly followed by Buchenwald in Hedwig was arrested in for political opposition to the Nazis.
She was imprisoned for two and a quarter years at Jauer and Lichtenburg. Following Kristallnacht , many Jews were arrested and persecution intensified.
