Preservation of a historic site of Nazi crimes

CODE: DE-SCI 1.6

Work:

The work will mainly take place outside in the nature reserve and former camp area (weather permitting).  The aim is to help to maintain the provisional ‘history trail’.

The nature of the work this year is not yet fixed, but will be similar to previous years.  In previous camps, the work included the following:

• Landscaping and gardening in the nature reserve, and other places belonging to the Zeithain PoW Memorial.
• Conservation and documentation of historical objects found in the area (bad weather option)
• Renovation of the train station Jacobsthal
• Construction of markings made out of wood to show the building dimensions

Accommodation and food

The accommodation is in a house in the nearby village of Kreinitz. The house has a total of seven dormitories with between two and six beds per room. There is a kitchen for self-catering, rooms for freetime and simple bathrooms. There is internet via WLAN available and bicycles are provided. There are recreational facilities next to the accommodation which can be used with the agreement of the local sports club, including a sports hall, an outdoor volleyball court and a football pitch.

Here you can get impressions what the camp is like:
https://www.rolfschwarz.com/SCI/index.html
The videos are from the long-standing campleader Rolf Schwarz.

Location and leisure

Zeithain in Saxony. Kreinitz is one out of eleven villages that make up the municipality of Zeithain. Zeithain has roughly 5.500 inhabitants, the nearby town Riesa around 30.000. Zeithain is known for the history of the prisoner-of-war camp of the same name and for the first ‘Link-Up’ between the Red Army and the US Army patrols in April 1945. Kreinitz has roughly 500 inhabitants and is directly located at the banks of the river Elbe. The Elbe cycle route passes the accommodation of the camp.

The camp offers the perfect balance between peaceful countryside living with sport facilities and exciting opportunities to explore the region. Surrounded by nature, you can relax and stay active. A lake, about 8 km from Kreinitz, invites you to go swimming and cool off during warm summer days. The house is located directly on the Elbe cycle route, making it ideal for bike tours along the river. You can cycle to small cities, enjoying beautiful landscapes and quiet riverside scenery along the way.

On the weekend, you can easily combine the calm of rural life with urban adventures. Trips by public transport to vibrant cities such as Chemnitz, Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin, or even Prague are possible. If you prefer charming small towns, you can also discover nearby gems like Meissen, Torgau, or Moritzburg — each offering its own unique atmosphere and cultural highlights.

Requirements: A good level of English. Interest in the history of National Socialism and current social and political issues, initiative, openness to different perspectives and a sense of responsibility for you and others.