Abstract
The “Riese” project was a huge construction project initiated by German Nazi authorities, which was located in the northeast of the Sowie Mountains (Ger. Eulengebirge) in southwestern Poland. Construction of the “Riese” complex took place in 1943–1945 but was left unfinished. Due to the lack of reliable sources, the exact intended function of the Riese complex is still unknown. The construction was carried out by prisoners, mostly Jews, from the main nearby concentration camps, KL Gross-Rosen and KL Auschwitz-Birkenau. Thanks to the discovery in the National Archives (NARA, USA) of a valuable series of German aerial photographs taken in February 1945, insight into the location of labour camps was obtained. These photographs, combined with LiDAR data from the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (Warsaw, Poland), allowed for the effective identification and field inspection of the camps’ remains. The location and delimitation of the selected labour camps were confirmed by an analysis of the 1945 aerial photograph combined with LiDAR data. These results were supported by field inspection as well as archival testimonies of witnesses. The field inspection of the construction remains indicated intentionally faulty construction works, which deliberately reduced the durability of the buildings and made them easy to demolish. The authors believe that it is urgent to continue the research and share the results with both the scientific community and the local community. The authors also want to emphasize that this less-known aspect of Holocaust history is gradually disappearing in social and institutional memory and is losing to the commercial mythologization of the Riese object.
Highlights
IntroductionThe significance of commemorating these facilities is emphasized by the fact that, for example, Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list [1]
German Nazi concentration camps were a place of death and suffering for thousands of innocent victims of World War II
Indirect features were used in that task: the surrounding roads, the footpaths, and the general outline of the buildings seen on the archive photo (Figure 3a) that received the Sky-View Factor (SVF) treatment (5 m: Figure 3d), which emphasized the topography of the terrain
Summary
The significance of commemorating these facilities is emphasized by the fact that, for example, Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list [1]. It has been 75 years since the end of the War. New diagnostic techniques are being employed with increased frequency and archives have been made more accessible. New diagnostic techniques are being employed with increased frequency and archives have been made more accessible Both of these facts have contributed to turning a new page when it comes to researching the history of concentration, labour, penal and death camps from World War II [2,3,4]. A lack of legal regulations together with convoluted issues related to ownership of the land only serve to exacerbate the difficulties encountered while trying to commemorate those facilities
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
