Atlas Obscura · People & society

Fort Breendonk: A WWII Nazi Prison Camp

Fort Breendonk, a former Belgian fort, served as a Nazi transit and prison camp during World War II, notorious for its harsh conditions.

Built between 1906 and 1913, the fort was utilized in both World Wars. During WWII, it held political prisoners, resistance members, and Jews, with a significant number of SS guards outnumbering prisoners, ensuring constant surveillance.

The camp is remembered more for its poor living conditions than for the high death toll within its walls. Of the 3,590 prisoners held, 303 died at the camp, while 1,741 perished in other concentration camps before the war's end.

Prisoners endured severe torture, including immersion in the surrounding water, burial up to their heads, and having mud forced into their mouths. The sounds of torture from an open room at night prevented prisoners from sleeping.

Deaths were often falsely registered as heart failure or old age, masking brutal murders. Camp commander Philipp Schmitt's dog, Lump, was known to attack inmates, with one prisoner reportedly dying from 14 bites.

The fort, now a museum, features rooms like the torture chamber, showers, and barracks, offering visitors an audio tour and extensive information about the prisoners' daily lives.

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