the prisoners were from russia and europe, usually the east, but including spanish republicans. some of the few remaining unevacuated alderney natives (round about 2% of the population) also found themselves in there. in 1942, "lager norderney", containing russian and polish pows, and "lager sylt", holding jews, were placed under the control of ss hauptsturmführer max list. over 700 of the inmates are said to have lost their lives before the camps were closed and the remaining inmates transferred to germany in 1944.