Oberer Kuhlberg

On the outskirts of Ulm at Oberer Kuhlberg lies an old fortress from the middle of the nineteenth century. In November 1933 and on the initiative of local nazi leader Wilhelm Murr, a prison was established in the fortress. It was mainly political opponents such as communists and social democrats who were imprisoned. At this time, the idea was that the prisoners would be released after they were reintegrated and abandoned previous ideals. The prisoners did not need slave labour and the conditions were, in comparison to later years, milder. This did not mean that the prisoners did not risk being beaten. As a result of the centralisation of the camp system, the prison was wound up in July 1935 and the remaining approximately thirty prisoners were transferred to Dachau outside Munich. During the prison’s existence, about 600 people were in the camp.