Fahrradtour: Orte der NS-Zwangsarbeit in Böhlen bei Leipzig

with Martin Baumert and Martin Haufe

The small town of Böhlen in the south of Leipzig is still of great importance to the lignite industry today. This was also the case during the time of the "Third Reich" between 1933 and 1945, when petrol and other products for the war and armaments industry were extracted here in preparation for and during the German wars of aggression. These plants were operated by Braunkohlen-Benzin AG (BRABAG) and Aktiengesellschaft Sächsische Werke (ASW). Up to 8,000 prisoners of war, forced laborers and concentration camp inmates from all parts of Europe were also deployed. Several hundred of them did not survive the hard and dangerous work and the inhumane living conditions. Many fell victim to Nazi crimes.

The bicycle tour commemorates forced labor in Böhlen's lignite industry. It includes a guided tour of workplaces, former camps and today's memorials and places of remembrance. The tour begins with an introduction to the significance of Böhlen as an armaments site and the lignite mining industry. The living conditions of the forced laborers are then examined. Another station explains the differentiated camp system consisting of prisoner-of-war camps, forced labor camps, labor education camps and subcamps. The tour concludes with a visit to the memorial grove at the Lippendorf power plant, the final resting place for the victims of forced labor in Böhlen.

The cycle tour ends after approximately two hours and almost 15 kilometers at the train station in Böhlen.
Please note: The tour leads partly over unpaved paths and steep climbs. The bike tour is canceled in bad weather.

Meeting point: 14:00 at Böhlen station (station forecourt)
S3, S5, S5X (Böhlen (near Leipzig))

Participation is free of charge and possible without registration.