I visited the former prison camp in Schwalmstadt-Trutzhain. In late 1939 at the beginning of the Second World War –starting with the invasion of Poland– a lot of prison camps got built in Germany.
The so-called STALAG IX A Ziegenhain camp close to Schwalmstadt was one of the camps for detaining war prisoners. One of the famous prisoners detained there was the former president of France, François Mitterand. After the war the camp became a home for displaced families from East Europe and other refugees.
Nowadays Trutzhain is a small town with an outdoor historical exhibition. You can walk trough the town and information boards inform one about the function of the (still used) houses of the former camp. It feels a little strange to walk around people’s houses focusing on history meanwhile the inhabitants live their normal lives.
A very interesting place. And most definitely worth a visit.
