Pöppendorf camp, lying between Lübeck and Travemünde, was built in July 1945 to accommodate discharged
members of the German Armed Forces. From November 1945 onward it served as a transit camp for refugees
from eastern Germany. With more than half a million inhabitants it was the largest transit camp
for refugees in Schleswig-Holstien.
The smaller Am Stau camp had mainly Polish Displaced Persons.
While watch-towers with floodlights were erected around the camps and over 125 tents were erected
adjacent the Nissan huts, the current occupiers had to leave. They were quartered in other
accommodation.
On 23rd August, the Senat of the Hanse city of Lübeck ruled an:
Opposition to this burden on the physically overcrowded city, and opposition to the utilization
of the urgently required camps for refugees.
The accommodation was completely renovated and cleaned. The British appointed their own camp commander.
The German administration was subordinate to him. The former camp personnel, entirely made up of
refugees from the east, was requested by the British to take charge of the new Jewish inhabitants.
The personnel had to undergo a special screening and questioning. The German camp commander, together
with the works committee instructed the personnel:
In the carrying out of their duty to show the greatest restraint in respect of the Jews, and on
no condition to get involved in an exchange of words or dispute.
