The Niederhagen Concentration Camp

On March 7, 1941, a large transport took Engleitner to Niederhagen, another concentration camp in Wewelsburg, Westphalia. Here he endured two more years of degradation and humiliation. Jehovah’s Witnesses were transferred to Niederhagen from various other camps. The Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler had big construction plans for Wewelsburg. Using a plan by an architect named Bartels, Himmler intended to build a gigantic SS headquarters. To accomplish this huge task, a large crowd of laborer would be required.

Since many of the prisoners had been shot when trying to escape, Heinrich Himmler decided to use the hardworking Bible Students. First, to work them to death, and secondly, because he knew that they would never try to escape. When Engleitner arrived, there were only four barracks, which looked like stables. Even though the Bible Students worked as hard as they could, they were regarded as scum.

Initially, Engleitner worked as a bricklayer. Then he was assigned to the “Wewelsburg” unit, where he helped build drains and cable shafts. Afterwards he also worked in the "Waldsiedlung" unit. This unit was responsible for building the homes of the SS members and their families. He spent most of his time in Wewelsburg working in the electricians’ unit. This unit was composed entirely by the Bible Students, since they were the only ones who never tried to escape.

In Wewelsburg, Engleitner was also exposed to the aggressive behavior of a fellow prisoner, an ex-professional criminal. Then, in the autumn of 1942, he was offered the possibility of being released. A farmer had requested him as a farmhand. To secure his freedom all Engleitner had to do was sign a declaration renouncing his beliefs. But he refused, saying, “I’d like to work as a farmhand, but I can never sign this declaration!”