Haslach
Encyclopedia
Haslach is a small city in south-west Germany
, in the district Ortenaukreis
, Baden-Württemberg
. As of 2010 it had a population of 7,010.
Haslach had a sub-camp of the concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof
. Many French citizens were deported to this camp for their "crimes" against the Germany Reich. Among these prisoners was Alexis Dechaux, a Catholic priest, who was pastor of his church in Héricourt, France. In 1944, Walter Menzel of the Gestapo arrested Father Dechaux, who was eventually deported to the camp at Haslach, where he remained until being liberated in 1945. While there, he devoted his time to helping many unfortunate and dying camp prisoners by giving them spiritual comfort, smuggling in extra bread, and giving them solace and courage. He himself was tortured by the camp administration, made fun of because he wore his priestly cassock, and was marked for death more than once. However, due to his fortitude and strong will to live, he was able to survive the camp and return to his beloved parish where he was received with open arms and great fanfare.
The site of the former World War II underground factory at Haslach was used for an explosive seismic test in 1948.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in the district Ortenaukreis
Ortenaukreis
Ortenaukreis is a district in the west of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Rastatt, Freudenstadt, Rottweil, Schwarzwald-Baar and Emmendingen...
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
. As of 2010 it had a population of 7,010.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Haslach had a sub-camp of the concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof
Natzweiler-Struthof
Natzweiler-Struthof was a German concentration camp located in the Vosges Mountains close to the Alsatian village of Natzwiller in France, and the town of Schirmeck, about 50 km south west from the city of Strasbourg....
. Many French citizens were deported to this camp for their "crimes" against the Germany Reich. Among these prisoners was Alexis Dechaux, a Catholic priest, who was pastor of his church in Héricourt, France. In 1944, Walter Menzel of the Gestapo arrested Father Dechaux, who was eventually deported to the camp at Haslach, where he remained until being liberated in 1945. While there, he devoted his time to helping many unfortunate and dying camp prisoners by giving them spiritual comfort, smuggling in extra bread, and giving them solace and courage. He himself was tortured by the camp administration, made fun of because he wore his priestly cassock, and was marked for death more than once. However, due to his fortitude and strong will to live, he was able to survive the camp and return to his beloved parish where he was received with open arms and great fanfare.
The site of the former World War II underground factory at Haslach was used for an explosive seismic test in 1948.
External links
- http://www.haslach.de
- Haslach: Informations and images (German)