Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 20, 2008 Adar1 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 06:16 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 23:04 31/10/2007
Forced prostitution in WWII camps highlighted in Hamburg exhibit
By DPA
Tags: Nazis, prostitution 

The abuse of women prisoners as prostitutes in German concentration camps during the Nazi period has received too little attention in previous studies, German sociologist Christa Paul believes.

The German SS, who ran the camps, set up brothels in 10 camps, according to the 47-year-old researcher at Hamburg University.

The aim was to reward prisoners who had shown high productivity in the forced labor camps, which were a major part of Adolf Hitler's armaments industry during World War II.
Advertisement
Paul's work is being highlighted in a special exhibition at the memorial to the Neuengamme concentration camp that opened Wednesday and runs to January 18 next year.

Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Paul said the women were largely recruited from the women's concentration camp Ravensbrueck to the north of Berlin.

"There was a so-called whores' block there," she said.

Current research suggests that around 220 women were forced into prostitution.

"The brothel was the biggest reward that the prisoners could receive to promote their work motivation," Paul said.

Big companies making use of concentration camp slave labor, such as the notorious IG Farben, had come out in favor of this incentive in 1942.

SS leader Heinrich Himmler was also in favour of the scheme, contradicting the widespread notion that the Nazis had banned prostitution.

Paul acknowledged difficulties in researching her theme as many of the victims were reluctant to speak of their experiences as sex slaves.

She added that while concentration camp brothels were now receiving more attention, "the establishment and operation of Wehrmacht (German army) brothels in occupied Eastern Europe remains a large blind spot."


Related articles:
  • Secrets of Nazi camp brothels emerge in German exhibition
  • Holocaust researcher asks Yad Vashem to recognize first Arab Righteous Gentile
  • Study: Holocaust trauma affects grandchildren of survivors

    More Jewish World news and features
  • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Intrigue at Heathrow
    According to the BBC, an IDF general dodged arrest as U.K. police feared shootout.
    Decency in remission
    A Ramat Yishai widow is suspected of faking cancer to receive donations.
      1.   Now I understand why the German industry...... 17:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 31/10/07
      2.   IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM 17:59  |  Brant 31/10/07
      3.   DESECRATION OF MEMORIES OF HOLY MARTIRS. ONLY 220 OUT OF 6,5 MLN? 18:03  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 31/10/07
      4.   It happened in a lot more than "ten camps". 18:21  |  Fortuna Benmayor 31/10/07
      5.   #3 Desecration 19:15  |  Russ 31/10/07
      6.   What purpose serves this exhibition n o w? 20:00  |  Hugo H. Mendelsohn 31/10/07
      7.   what purpose indeed 20:41  |  0 degrees 31/10/07
      8.   Finally my grandmothers sisters story is told 20:49  |  Nephtaly 31/10/07
      9.   Re: #1 Swiss (Dino) 22:57  |  Noah 31/10/07
      10.   AXEL - I AM WAITING FOR YOU TO INSERT 23:21  |  * BEN JABO 31/10/07
      11.   Instructive Rememberance? 23:47  |  Yoram 31/10/07
      12.   Incongruous title 00:14  |  Philippe 01/11/07
      13.   # 9 Noah 00:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/11/07
      14.   Where´s Clickfool? 00:50  |  Barry 01/11/07
      15.   German brothels 01:39  |  siegfried buchwalte 01/11/07
      16.   Naphataly 01:53  |  Asher Buchwalter 01/11/07
      17.   # 8 0 Degrees and others* who so freely and deliberately 02:14  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 01/11/07
      18.   I don`t want to know it 03:02  |  Edith 01/11/07
      19.   Re: Brant #2 03:36  |  Scott G 01/11/07
      20.   Noah #9 03:42  |  Scott G 01/11/07
      21.   Heartbreaking 07:56  |  Deborah 01/11/07
      22.   thank hashem some survived 11:01  |  safta 01/11/07
      23.   Bad link - shows only headline 16:28  |  Shlomo 01/11/07
      24.   They were sexually abused, not whores or prostitutes 02:50  |  Darnell 02/11/07
      25.   #14 Barry - Tokyo 02:57  |  * BEN JABO 02/11/07
      26.   DINO/HA ARETZ 05:58  |  JOELLE 06/11/07
     Today Online
    Olmert meets Abbas but Jerusalem not on agenda
    Responses: 175
    Lebanon tense amid specter of fresh Israel-Hezbollah fighting
    Responses: 177
    German intellectuals: Israel's creation made Palestinians victims of the Nazi Holocaust
    Responses: 309
    Meron Benvenisti: The demographic bomb is 1-2 years away
    Responses: 89
    Yoel Marcus: Better to keep tabs on terrorists than to kill them
    Responses: 47
    Rosner's Domain
    Does John McCain need Evangelical voters? (WTR)
    Rosner's Guest(s): Orthodox women want a "seat at the table"
    Gaza: The Problem Nobody Wants
    Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008?
    The row over Obama's stance on Israel is a dispute between Jews


    More Headlines
    03:42 Settlements growing despite PM pledge to stop building
    05:21 ANALYSIS: When it comes to Jerusalem, both sides are right
    01:44 Report: UK police did not arrest IDF general fearing shootout
    03:11 MKs to tour Europe, Far East urging stronger action against Iran
    03:15 Secular families leave J'lem neighborhood, ultra-Orthodox take over
    22:42 Peace minded residents of Gaza, Sderot meet online, write blog
    04:05 Officials at odds over first planned Arab city since Israel established
    04:27 Police arrest 2 men for assaulting cab driver, 72, then stealing his taxi
    04:42 Labor party minister appeals bill 'empowering' rabbinical courts
    22:02 Siniora: Failure to solve Lebanon crisis undermines Arab Summit
    21:47 Egyptian officials meet with Hamas on Gaza-Egypt border security
    05:41 Business owners in north told to return Lebanon war compensation
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach
    Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Dead Sea Salt
    Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved