Neustift subcamp was a mountaineering training centre for the SS where prisoners from Dachau were put to work. According to Albert Knoll, writing for Dachau KZ blog, it is first mentioned on 10th October 1942 by the records of the International Search Services and existed until 4th May 1945. In September 1942, the SS High Command decided to build an SS High Mountain School at Neustift and SS-Obersturmbannführer Eberhard von Quirsfeld was put in charge of its construction. Quirsfeld remained in charge of the school until the arrival of US troops on 3rd May 1945. Training began in 1943 and the school staff consisted of 60 people, including a camp doctor, dentist and administrative director. The first prisoners arrived from Dachau on 13th October 1942, consisting of 31 Germans and 19 Polish. 30 prisoners were allocated to camp I and 20 to camp II.

 

The prisoners were confined in an existing barrack located about 50 meters away from the newly constructed training barracks. They were guarded by 10-12 Volksdeutsche - older ethnic Germans, some of them with war wounds - from Siebenbürgen. The guards also lived in the barrack, but were separated from the prisoners who were confined in three small rooms with barred windows. Generally, the workforce numbered 60 in the summer months and 20-30 during the winter. 

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The first task undertaken by the prisoners was the construction of the High Mountain School, including the work and living barracks, a parade ground and an ammunition depot. Following this, the prisoners were used as carpenters, electricians, bricklayers and boot-makers, according to their individual skills. The camp was not fenced and trusted prisoners were allowed to work under guard in Neustift village, performing tasks such as harvesting crops or household repairs. 

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There were two prisoner deaths in Neustift, generating criminal proceedings in 1963 and 1973. No verdicts were passed. One of the deaths occurred when Josef Scheiblecker was found in the private apartment of a woman in the village on 19th August 1943. He was shot in what may or may not have been an execution ordered by a senior officer. 

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The second death occurred when two prisoners tried to escape in February 1945. One of them died in an avalanche, but the second prisoner was shot.

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