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Nazi Forced Labor
Over 12 million people were forced to perform forced labor for Germany in the course of the Second World War.
Miroslav D. in the forced labor camp of a steel plant
In the summer of 1944 alone, in addition to six million civilian laborers, two million prisoners of war and over half a million concentration camp prisoners were forced to work in the German Reich.
Also in the occupied territories, a considerable number of men, women and children were forced to work for the enemy.
It was the forced laborers who kept the agricultural supply and arms production going. The industry profited from the expansion of production.
German employees advanced to supervisor positions.
News
70 years ago: The "Ostarbeiter-Erlasse"
A Ukrainian testimony on the consequences of the "Ostarbeiter-Erlasse" of Feb. 20, 1942 - An Interviewer talks about her interviews with former "Ostarbeiter"
New project day on the Auschwitz Trial
At the second day of "Victims' Voices at the Perpetrators' Site" in the "Topograpy of Terror", students do research on witnesses and perpetrators at Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial (1963-65).
Second Edition Educational Material
The educational material about "Forced Labor 1939-1945" ist now available in a second edition. Video DVD, learning software and teachers' book are can be purchased at Federal Agency for Civic Education.
