Project Riese (Giant)

Project Riese (Giant)
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Date: 1943 to 1945

Location: Lower Silesian Voivodeship, or Lower Silesia Province, Poland

Riese, German for giant, is the code name for a construction project of Nazi Germany in 1943 to 1945, consisting of seven underground structures located in the Owl Mountains and Ksiaz Castle in Lower Silesia, previously Germany, now a territory of Poland.

None of them were finished, all are in different states of completion with only a small percentage of tunnels reinforced by concrete.

The purpose of the project remains uncertain because of the lack of documentation. Some sources suggest that all the structures were part of the Fuhrer Headquarters, yet according to others, it was a combination of headquarters, HQ, and arms industry, but comparison to similar facilities can indicate that only the castle was adapted as an HQ or other official residence and the tunnels in the Owl Mountains were planned as a network of underground factories.

The construction work was done by forced laborers, prisoners of war - POWs, and prisoners of concentration camps, some as young as 10 years old. Many lost their lives mostly as a result of disease and malnutrition.

Due to increasing Allied air raids, Nazi Germany relocated a large part of its strategic armaments production into safer regions including Province of Lower Silesia.

Plans to protect critical infrastructure also involved transfer of the arms factories to underground bunkers and construction of air raid shelters for government officials.

In September 1943, Minister of Armaments and War Production Albert Speer and the senior management of Organisation Todt started talks on Project Riese. As a result, the Schlesische Industriegemeinschaft AG, Silesian Industrial Company, was created to conduct construction work. In November, collective camps, Gemeinschaftslager, were established for forced laborers,mainly from the Soviet Union and Poland, POWs from Italy, the Soviet Union, and later Poland as an aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising.

A network of roads, bridges, and narrow gauge railways was created to connect excavation sites with the nearby railway stations. Prisoners were reloading building materials, cutting trees, digging reservoirs and drainage ditches. Small dams were built across streams to create water supplies and sewage systems. Later the rocks of the mountains were drilled and blasted with explosives and the resulting caverns were reinforced by concrete and steel.

For this purpose mining specialists were employed, mostly Germans, Italians, Ukrainians, and Czechs but the most dangerous and exhausting work was done by prisoners.

The progress of digging tunnels was slow because the structure of the Owl Mountains consists of hard gneiss. Most of the similar facilities were bored in soft sandstone, but harder, more stable rocks gave the advantage of total protection from Allied air raids and the possibility of building 36' high underground halls with a volume of 211,888 cubic feet.

In December 1943, a typhus epidemic occurred amongst the prisoners. They were held in unhygienic conditions, exhausted and starving. As a result, construction slowed down significantly. There were at least five collective camps, and an unknown number of forced laborers and POWs worked for the project, some until the end of the war. It is also undetermined how many prisoners lost their lives.

In April 1944, dissatisfied with the progress of the project, Adolf Hitler decided to hand over the supervision of construction to the Organisation Todt and assign prisoners of concentration camps to work. They were deployed in thirteen labor camps, some in the vicinity of the tunnels. The network of these camps has been named Arbeitslager Riese, and was part of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp. The administration of AL Riese and the camp commander, SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Albert Lutkemeyer, were located in AL Wustegiersdorf. From December 1944 to January 1945 the prisoners were guarded by 853 SS troops.

According to incomplete data, at least 13,000 prisoners worked for the project. Most of them were transferred from the Auschwitz concentration camp. The documents allow identification of 8,995 prisoners. All of them were Jews, about 70% from Hungary, the rest from Poland, Greece, Romania, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Mortality was very high because of disease, malnutrition, exhaustion, dangerous underground works, and the treatment of prisoners by German guards. Many exhausted prisoners were sent back to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The deportation of 857 prisoners is documented as well as 14 executions after failed escape attempts. An estimated total of 5,000 victims lost their lives.

At the end of 1944, another typhus epidemic occurred amongst the prisoners. Because the front line of the war was approaching, evacuation of the camps began in February 1945, however in a few places work might have been conducted even at the end of April. Some prisoners were left behind, mostly badly ill, until the Red Army arrived in the area in May 1945. Project Riese was abandoned at the initial stage of construction and only 5.5 miles of tunnels were dug out.

The individual structures are:

#1 - Ksiaz Castle:

Ksiaz Castle is located in the city of Walbrzych, Poland. Its last owner in the inter-war period was the Hochberg family, one of the wealthiest and most influential European dynasties, Hans Heinrich XV, Prince of Pless and his English wife, Mary-Theresa Olivia Cornwallis-West, Princess Daisy. As a result of their extravagant lifestyle and the global economic crisis they fell into debt. In 1941, the castle and the lands were seized by the Nazi government, partly to pay taxes, partly as punishment for the perceived treason of their sons. At that time one of them served in the British Army, another in the Polish Armed Forces in the West. The castle, under the leadership of architect Hermann Giesler, was first adapted to accommodate the management of the state-owned railways, Deutsche Reichsbahn, but in 1944 it became part of Project Riese. In 1941–1944, it was also a place where parts of the collection of the Prussian State Library had been hidden.

The works in the castle were extensive and led to the destruction of many decorative elements. New staircase and elevator shafts were built to improve emergency evacuation routes. The most serious work however took place below the castle. There are two levels of tunnels. The first is 50' underground and was accessible from the castle by a lift and a staircase and also by an entrance from the gardens. The tunnel 250' 1,500' x 1,200' is reinforced by concrete and leads to an elevator shaft hidden 50' under the courtyard, the direct way from the castle to the main underground complex. The shaft, 115', has not been explored because it is filled with rubble. A provisional, short tunnel from the gardens was bored to assist in its excavation.

The second level of underground, 3,117' x 10,500' x 40,000' is 175' under the courtyard. Four tunnels were bored into the base of the hill:

#1 is 279'

#2 is 138'

#3 is 289'

#4 is 210'

The complex contains large tunnels 15' high and 18' wide and four chambers. 75% is reinforced by concrete. There are two additional shafts leading to the surface, one with dimensions 11.5' x 11.5' and one with diameter 1.5' presently used to supply electricity.

Above ground are foundations of buildings and machinery, two reservoirs of water, a pumping station, and remains of a sewage treatment plant. In 1975–1976 four bunkers Ringstand 58c, and a guardroom were demolished.

The narrow gauge railway connecting the tunnels with the railway siding in the village of Lubiechów was dismantled after the war.

In May 1944, AL Furstenstein was established in the vicinity of the castle. Between 700 and 1,000 concentration camp prisoners lived in barracks. They were Jews, citizens of Hungary, Poland, & Greece. Evacuation of the camp took place in February 1945.

Today the castle and the undergrounds are open to the public. The second level also contains seismological and geodesical measuring equipment belonging to the Polish Academy of Sciences.

#2 - Complex Rzeczka:

Complex Rzeczka is located on a borderline between the villages of Rzeczka, Poland and Walim Poland, inside Ostra Mountain.

Drilling work began in March 1944. Three tunnels were bored into the base of the mountain. The structure contains a nearly completed guardroom and large underground halls, up to 30' in height. The total length of the tunnels is 1,500'. 11% is reinforced by concrete.

Above ground are foundations of machinery and a concrete bridge. The second bridge was damaged and replaced by a footbridge. A narrow gauge railway, used for transportation of spoil to a nearby heap, was dismantled after the war.

In 1995 the underground was opened to the public and in 2001 transformed into a museum.

In November 1943, Gemeinschaftslager I Wustewaltersdorf was established in textile factory Websky, Hartmann & Wiesen AG. Its prisoners were forced laborers, mainly from the Soviet Union, Poland and POWs from Italy, captured by the German army after the Italian armistice and switching sides, led by marshal Pietro Badoglio. The most numerous group consisted of POWs from the Soviet Union. They were detained in the part of the camp subordinate to Stalag VIII-A Görlitz. It was liberated in May 1945.

In April 1944, AL Wustewaltersdorf was created in the same location for prisoners of concentration camps, mostly Jews from Greece. Some sources suggest the camp might have been located on the slopes of Chlopska Mountain, according to others, its existence is doubtful.

#3 - Complex Wlodarz:

Complex Wlodarz is located inside Wlodarz Mountain. It is a grid of tunnels 9,500'long and large underground halls, up to 36' in height. Less than 1% is reinforced by concrete. It was accessible by four tunnels bored into the base of the mountain with chambers for guardrooms. There is a shaft leading to the surface with diameter 12'. Some tunnels have higher, second levels connected by small shafts. This is a stage of building underground halls. Two tunnels were bored, one over the other and then the ceiling was collapsed to create large space. Some parts of the complex are flooded but accessible by boat. From 2004 it is open to visitors.

Above ground are foundations of machinery, numerous unfinished or destroyed buildings, a bunker, two reservoirs of water, and depots of building materials including thousands of fossilized bags of cement. The network of narrow gauge railways, connecting the tunnels with the railway siding in the village of Olszyniec, Poland was disassembled and scrapped after the war.

In May 1944, AL Wolfsberg was established, probably by taking over an existing camp from the Organization Schmelt. About 3,000 concentration camp prisoners lived in tents made of plywood, 9' in diameter, 20 people in each one, and several barracks. They were Jews, mainly from Hungary and Poland, but also from Greece, Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Romania. The ruins of concrete barracks for SS guards can still be found in the vicinity of the camp. Evacuation of the prisoners started in February 1945.

#4 - Complex Osówka:

Complex Osówka is located inside Osówka Mountain. It is accessible by tunnel #1, 360', with chambers for guardrooms and tunnel #22 1,500', bored 30' below the level of the main underground, with guardrooms close to completion. Behind them there is a connection of two levels created by the collapse of the ceiling. The structure is a grid of tunnels 5742' and underground halls, up to 24' in height. Only 6.9% is reinforced by concrete. There is a shaft leading to the surface with a diameter of 18'. Tunnel #3, 320', is not connected to the complex. It is 1500' away and 150' below the main underground. It contains two dams and hydraulic equipment of an unknown purpose.

Above ground are foundations of buildings, machinery, a ramp for transportation of mine cars to different levels, a reservoir of water and depots, some with systems of heating up building materials in winter. The largest structure is a single story, concrete building with walls 18" thick and roof adapted for camouflage by vegetation. A utility tunnel 4' x 6' x 120' was under construction to connect it with the shaft. Another structure of unknown purpose is a concrete monolith 180' x 180' with tens of pipes, drains and culverts, buried into the rock at least 14'. A narrow gauge railway network connected the tunnels with the railway station in the village of Gluszyca Górna, Poland.

Since 1996, the complex is open to the public.

In August 1944, AL Säuferwasser was established for prisoners of concentration camps. They were Jews, citizens of Poland, Hungary, and Greece. The remains of the camp can still be found in the vicinity of the tunnel #3. Its evacuation took place in February 1945

#5 - Complex Sokolec:

Complex Sokolec is located near the village of Sokolec, Poland, inside Gontowa Mountain. It consists of two underground structures on different levels. Tunnels #1 and #2, with chambers for guardrooms, lead to the underground up to 15' in height. It is collapsed in many places because the complex was bored in soft sandstone.

In 2011 excavation of tunnel #3, 475', has begun, inaccessible since the end of war because of its collapsed entrance. It is 1800' away and 180' below tunnels #1 and #2. Tunnel #4, 300', was opened in 1994, one of only two short tunnels which were found with mining equipment from 1945. It is located 750' from tunnel #3, on the same level but not connected. The total length of the complex is 3,180'. It is not reinforced by concrete.

Above ground are foundations of buildings, machinery and two ramps for transportation of mine cars to different levels. A retaining wall 145' was built to secure a new road. A narrow gauge railway connected the tunnels with the railway siding in the village of Ludwikowice Klodzkie, Poland.

In April 1944, AL Falkenberg was established in the hamlet of Sowina, Poland for prisoners of concentration camps. It was inhabited by 1,500 men of Jewish origin from Poland, Hungary, and Greece. Evacuation of the camp took place in February 1945.

#6 - Complex Jugowice:

Complex Jugowice is located in the village of Jugowice, Poland, inside Dzial Jawornicki Mountain. Tunnels #2, 320' and #4 lead to a small underground level. There is a shaft with a diameter of 18" x 20" x 48' in the vicinity of the complex but not connected to it. Tunnel #6 is collapsed 121' from the entrance and has not been explored yet. It was closed by two steel doors 21' apart.

The rest of the tunnels are in the initial stage of construction:

#1 is 30'

#3 is 45'

#5 is 9'

#7 is 80'

The total length of the structure is 1,500'. Less than 1% is reinforced by concrete.

Above ground are foundations of buildings, machinery, a pumping station, and a reservoir of water. A narrow gauge railway connected the tunnels with the railway siding in the village of Olszyniec, Poland where AL Erlenbusch was established in May 1944. Between 500 and 700 concentration camp prisoners lived in five barracks. They were Jews, citizens of Hungary and Poland. The camp was liberated in May 1945.

#7 - Jedlinka Palace:

Jedlinka Palace is located in the village of Jedlinka, Poland. In 1943, it was purchased by the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt, National Socialist People's Welfare, from the Böhm family as a result of their financial problems. At the beginning of 1944 the plans to transform it into a hospital were disrupted because the building was confiscated by military authorities and adapted as headquarters for the Schlesische Industriegemeinschaft AG, Silesian Industrial Company. An air raid shelter was created in the cellar with armoured, gasproof doors. The palace and the nearby town of Jedlina-Zdrój was established as general base of operations for Project Riese.

The corporation was responsible for construction work and supervising all companies and local businesses taking part in the project on behalf of the Main Building Commission of the Ministry of Arms, including:

Ackermann, Deutsche Hoch und Tiefbaugesellschaft, Dybno, Eule, Fix, Friedrich Krupp AG, Geppardt, Hegerfeld, Hotze, Hutto, Jank, Kemna und Co., Krause, Lenz, Lingen, Messinger, Otto Trebitz, Otto Weil, Philipp Holzmann AG, Pischel, Putzer und Holzmann, Sager und Wörner, Sänger und Laninger, Schallhorn, Seidenspinner, Singer und Muller, Steinhage, Tebe und Bucer, Urban, Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke (VDM), Wayss und Freytag, Websky, Weiden und Petersil.

In April 1944, the Schlesische Industriegemeinschaft AG was deemed too inefficient and replaced by the Organisation Todt (OT) under supervision of the chief engineer Franz Xaver Dorsch, senior construction manager Leo Muller, architect Siegfried Schmelcher, and architect Konrad Meyer. The Oberbauleitung Riese (OBL Riese) was established. It was the OT basic construction sector and administrative HQ. The palace was occupied by the OT until May 1945. Presently it is open to the public.

#8 - Gluszyca:

The air raid shelter in Gluszyca, and its vicinity was the location of many labor camps connected to Project Riese. From October 1943 to March 1945 manufacturing plants of Friedrich Krupp AG were relocated here from Essen. They took over two textile factories belonging to Meyer-Kauffmann Textilwerke AG and adapted them to armaments production. An air raid shelter was built inside a nearby hill . It consists of two tunnels, 60% reinforced by concrete and bricks 720' x 1,800' x 1,500'.

In November 1943, Gemeinschaftslager III Wustegiersdorf was established for forced laborers from the Soviet Union in textile factory of Kammgarnspinnerei Stöhr & Co. AG and existed until the end of the war. In April 1944, AL Wustegiersdorf was created in the same location for prisoners of concentration camps, between 700 and 1,000 Jews from Hungary and Poland. It was also a main storehouse of food and clothes, administration center, and headquarters for the commander of AL Riese. Evacuation of the camp took place in February 1945.

In November 1943, Gemeinschaftslager II Dörnhau was established in the village of Kolce. The camp occupied a closed textile factory of brothers Giersch, and was inhabited by forced laborers from Poland and the Soviet Union. In June 1944, AL Dörnhau was created in the same location for prisoners of concentration camps from Hungary, Poland, and Greece of Jewish origin. Several barracks were added. That autumn, the camp was also designated as a central infirmary for severely ill with no prospects of recovery. 25 local mass graves have been excavated after the war with 1,943 victims. The camps were liberated in May 1945.

In November 1943, Gemeinschaftslager IV Oberwustegiersdorf was established in the village of Gluszyca Górna . The camp was located in the building of closed textile factory and existed until the end of the war. Its prisoners were forced laborers and POWs. In April–May 1944, AL Schotterwerk was created in the same village near the railway station for prisoners of concentration camps. Between 1,200 and 1,300 Jews from Hungary, Poland, and Greece lived in 8 to 11 wooden barracks. Part of prisoners joined the evacuation column in February 1945. The others were freed in May.

In March 1944, Gemeinschaftslager V Tannhausen was established in the village of Jedlinka for forced laborers and POWs in textile factory of Websky, Hartmann & Wiesen AG. In April – May 1944, AL Tannhausen was created in the same location for prisoners of concentration camps. It was inhabited by 1,200 men of Jewish origin from Hungary, Poland, Greece, and other European countries. Next to the camp, Zentralrevier Tannhausen, central infirmary was set up in November 1944. It was reserved for patients with good chance of recovery. They were housed in four brick barracks. Those prisoners, who were able to walk, were evacuated in February 1945. In the camp only the sick were left, who were liberated in May.

In August 1944, AL Kaltwasser was established in the village of Zimna Woda. Concentration camp prisoners of Jewish origin from Poland lived in five barracks. The camp was closed in December 1944 and the prisoners were transferred to AL Lärche.

In April–June 1944, AL Märzbachtal was established in the valley of Potok Marcowy Duzy for prisoners of concentration camps. Between 700 and 800 Jews, mainly from Hungary and Poland, lived in barracks of which remnants can still be seen today. Evacuation of the camp took place in February 1945.

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