title: Esterwegen
text: # Esterwegen
  
  Esterwegen is a municipality in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
  
  ## Geography
  
  Esterwegen lies in northwest Germany, less than 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the Dutch border and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the sea.
  
  ## Demographics
  
  In 2015 the population was 5,280.
  
  ## Government
  
  The mayor is Hermann Willenborg.
  
  ## Concentration camp
  
  In 1933 a concentration camp was established in Esterwegen. In 1936 the camp was dissolved and used till 1945 as a prisoner camp, for political prisoners and later for prisoners of the decree Nacht und Nebel.
  
  ### Notable inmates
  
  * Julius Leber, politician
  * Carl von Ossietzky, journalist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
  * Georg Diederichs, later Minister-President of Lower Saxony
  * Karl Germer, Outer Head of the Order (OHO) of Ordo Templi Orientis
  