North east of Radolfzell am Bodensee, 120 prisoners from Dachau constructed an SS shooting range, completed in 1942. This was then used by Waffen SS units of the Radolfzell Unterführerschule for training. More information about Radolfzell during the Nazi era can be found on this website. The site originally extended over 83,296 square metres and much of it remains well preserved. It consisted of three long shooting ranges with three short courses and various other facilities including an ammunition depot. The site was used until the end of the war for training on large calibre weapons. It was then taken over by French troops stationed in West Germany until abandoned in 1977. 

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The shooting range was constructed by German, Polish and Czech prisoners who arrived from Dachau on 19th May 1941. They were confined in a concentration camp outside Radolfzell city, established in the stable building of the former Heinrich Koeppen barracks (see bottom picture). The work involved piling up and fortifying soil heaps for the range. This was conducted without adequate tools - there were no earth moving machines, the work was entirely performed by hand with only trucks to move the required soil. 

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Prisoners rose at 6 am, lined up for roll call at 6.15 and went to the work site at 6.30 where they worked until 12 mid-day when they took a 30 minute break. The work then carried on until 5.30 pm. Although Radolfzell wasn't a 'death camp', a 'destruction through work' policy was followed nonetheless, characterised by poor food and clothing and inhumane working conditions as well as beatings by the SS guards. SS-Hauptscharführer Josef Seuss was found guilty by a US court after the war and executed for war crimes. According to surviving inmate Karl Tauber, Seuss used to beat prisoners with fists and clubs and then trample on them when they were lying on the ground. At least two deaths were recorded, along with several escapes and attempted escapes. The last surviving prisoners were returned to Dachau in January 1945. 

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