Buchenwald and Weimar are both situated in Thuringia. They are approximately 13 kilometres apart. Buchenwald is located on the Etter Mountain and Weimar at the bottom in the valley.
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Goethe lived for several years in Weimar. When he needed some inspiration, he went up the Etter Mountain.
Buchenwald was one of the first Nazi concentration camps. The citizens wanted to discard the Jews. Hitler could build the camp nearby Weimar because the locals were fond of Hitler and agreed with his ideas. The camp was visible from the town, likewise the town was visible from the camp.
In the beginning there was no train station and crematorium in Buchenwald. Prisoners had to walk through the town and their bodies needed to be cremated in Weimar.
There was industry located in the concentration camp where prisoners had to work for no money. The factories near Weimar got their own little camps to make use of the prisoners. These camps were also run by the administration in Buchenwald. The civilians profitted of the cheap labour forces because they could get the products really inexpensive.
Winnie & Michaël