Established in 1939 near the town of Sztutowo, this was the first concentration camp set up outside the borders of Germany in World War 2. It was also the last to be liberated on Polish territory.
Originally a civilian internment camp, Stutthof became a concentration camp in 1942. It is estimated that some 120 thousand people were deported to the camp, including some 50 thousand women and children. Between 65 and 80 thousand perished, including nearly 30 thousand Jews.
In late January 1945 the camp was evacuated. Estimates are that almost 50% of prisoners died in the evacuation. When the Soviet Army entered the camp on 9 May 1945 there were only about 140 inmates who has managed to hide during the final evacuation, and about 20 thousand people evacuated to the camp from East Prussia.
A museum was established on the site in 1962 and a memorial stands outside the camp perimeter in a place used to burn bodies.
On the 75th anniversary of the camp's liberation, a tribute to its victims was paid by Polish President Andrzej Duda, who wrote in a letter of being "deeply convinced that free Poland shall always honour the martyrdom of the heroic people of Pomerania, who paid the highest price for their fidelity to the homeland". Special messages on the anniversary were also forwarded by Poland's Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister of Germany, Heiko Mass, writing of gratitude that "Poland was ready to forgive" and that Germans acknowledged their guilt and unending responsibility; but also of the deep trust between the two countries and being thankful for everything that now connects Germany and Poland, which face challenges as neighbours, Europeans and also friends.
In his message, Poland's Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz spoke of collaboration with Germany that must be grounded on historical truth and of building a united Europe on a foundation of Polish-German reconciliation. The Polish Foreign Minister also spoke of the heritage of the past being an inherent part of Polish-German relations, and of the joint task to preserve the memory of the victims of German terror for future generations.
Source: IAR