Espeland Concentration Camp

Espeland concentration camp was established in Arna, Norway, now a part of Bergen, by the Nazi authorities of occupied Norway in the summer of 1943. It was largely built by slave labor from the other concentration camp near Bergen, Ulven concentration camp. All prisoners from Ulven were transferred to this camp, which quickly became overcrowded.

Prisoners were mistreated and often brutalized, and the camp had a separate section for chain gangs and prisoners who were kept in solitary confinement. When liberated in 1945, there were 200 prisoners at Espeland.

After the war it was used for prisoners with relations to the now-succumbed Nazi rule. According to Kjell Fjørtoft, abuse occurred in the camp.

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