Lagerordnung facts for kids
The Lagerordnung (pronounced Lah-ger-ord-nung) was a special set of rules for how prisoners were punished in concentration camps in Nazi Germany. These rules became official on January 1, 1934, for all concentration camps, including the famous Dachau concentration camp.
What Was the Lagerordnung?
The Lagerordnung was also known as the Strafkatalog, which means "Punishment Catalogue." It listed all the rules that prisoners had to follow inside the camps. If a prisoner broke a rule, the SS guards (a special police force of the Nazi party) were told to report it to the camp leader.
Rules for Prisoners
The Lagerordnung made it clear what was expected of prisoners. These rules were very strict and often unfair. They were designed to control every part of a prisoner's life, from what they could say to how they behaved. Breaking even a small rule could lead to severe punishment.
Unfair Punishments
The group in charge of all concentration camps, called the Concentration Camps Inspectorate, was responsible for giving out punishments. They often punished prisoners without checking if they had actually broken a rule. Once someone was accused, prisoners had no way to prove they were innocent. This meant that people could be punished simply because an SS guard said they did something wrong, even if they didn't.
Images for kids
-
Postcard from a prisoner at Dachau, with detailed rules for writing letters
-
A "punishment horse" used for flogging (whipping) at Dachau concentration camp
-
The "Bunker" at Dachau, which was the camp's own prison
-
Detention cells at Sachsenhausen concentration camp
