The first satellite camp under the administration of the
Neuengamme concentration camp was set up on 28 August 1942 in
Wittenberge. The establishment of the camp was preceded by
lengthy negotiations between the SS Economic Administration Main
Office and the Phrix company, since this was the first time that
prisoners would be housed outside of the Neuengamme
concentration camp. The camp for 500 prisoners was located in
Wittenberge directly on the premises of Kurmärkische Zellwolle
und Zellulose AG, a rayon and cellulose company, along the quay
wall leading to the Karthane River port. This firm was one of
five founding companies in the rayon and synthetic fibre
industry which joined together in 1941 to form Phrix-Werke AG.
Philipp Holzmann and Grün & Bilfinger were two other companies
involved in the operation of the satellite camp. The camp
consisted of two staff huts, a guard hut and latrines, and it
was surrounded by barbed wire. The concentration camp prisoners
were initially used to set up and expand the y