Recalling the Agonizing Death March: Frankfurt-Hünfeld's Forsaken Souls
Tragic Recollection of 'Death March' from Frankfurt to Hünfeld - Frankfurt-Hünfeld Forced March Victims Endure Deadly Ordeal
Get ready to delve into a heart-wrenching tale, as we pay homage to the countless souls who endured the devastating "Death March" that took place 80 years ago, from Frankfurt to the quaint eastern Hessian town of Hünfeld. Numerous localities along this grueling trail are commemorating the torment and loss of the prisoners by presenting an extensive array of events.
The tale begins on the eve of March 24, 1945, according to the Hessian State Agency for Political Education (HLZ). The day prior, US forces have crossed the Rhine. The horrific traverse had begun for the roughly 360 inmates of the subcamp "Katzbach," stationed within the Frankfurt Adlerwerke.
The path they were forced to tread extended through thriving cities and settlements, with the SS leading them relentlessly towards eastern Hesse. Their route traversed the shattered city of Hanau, numerous localities in the Kinzig valley, and navigated further via Fulda towards Hünfeld. From here, the wretched men were taken to the concentration camp Buchenwald, near Weimar, in Thuringia, via train.
Of the original 360 prisoners, a pitiful 280 reached Buchenwald, reveals HLZ. The remainder were mercilessly executed by the SS due to their frail condition or attempts to scavenge food. Witnesses alongside the route bore witness to SS members executing the inmates, with some victims meeting their end in local graves, while others were buried at the scene of the cold-blooded killings.
The unfortunate souls from the disbanded subcamp "Katzbach" were later transferred from Buchenwald to Dachau, where around 40 survivors were eventually set free by US forces on April 29, 1945.
The city of Frankfurt has arranged a poignant commemoration event in St. Paul's Church on March 24 (6:00 PM), welcoming descendants of the victims to share their stories. In Hünfeld, where the brave survivors had been crammed into goods wagons and transported to Buchenwald, a wreath will be laid on the station square on March 29 to pay tribute to the victims. Additional ceremonial events will take place in Fulda, Kalbach-Heubach, Gelnhausen, Maintal, Schlüchtern, and Wächtersbach.
- KZ
- Hünfeld
- Frankfurt
- Death
- Buchenwald
- Men
- Fulda
- Hesse
- State Agency for Political Education
- Rhine
- Concentration camp
- Death march
- Subcamp Katzbach
- World War II
Examining the Bleak Past
Although the "Death March" from Frankfurt to Hünfeld is a well-known historical event, limitations persist in the available information relating to a specific subcamp named "Katzbach" within this context. However, it is plausible that "Katzbach" honors a smaller camp or an incident not widely documented in archived records related to Buchenwald or death marches. Further research and clarification may be required to fully unravel its connection with these tragic historical occurrences.
Buchenwald, an infamous concentration camp built by the Nazis, was located near the city of Weimar, Germany. Established in 1937 and operational until April 1945, Buchenwald housed numerous subcamps where prisoners were put to work under unfathomable conditions.
Death marches were a grim reality during the closing months of World War II, as the Nazis forced prisoners from concentration camps to march towards other camps or remote locations, often subjected to inhumane treatment, leading to the deaths of thousands of victims.
A Legacy Honored: The Annual Commemoration of the Death March from Frankfurt to Hünfeld
The agonizing death march from Frankfurt to Hünfeld has been memorialized since 2025, with the work of street artist Arnold Rossberg being one such example – creating portraits in remembrance of this harrowing event to honor its victims [5]. The commemoration underscores the relevance of remembering the past and remaining respectful of the tragedies endured by countless souls throughout history.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, in the light of the tragic experiences of the inmates who were forced to endure the death march from Frankfurt to Hünfeld.
- It's worth noting that Frankfurt, the starting point of the death march, will be commemorating the victims with a poignant event in St. Paul's Church on March 24, inviting descendants of the victims to share their stories.
- Furthermore, Kinzig, one of the localities along the death march route, might consider inviting experts to collaborate on a commemoration of the inmates who were executed along the trail, such as those from the subcamp "Katzbach."
