Country Poland Gmina Iłowo-Osada Local time Friday 1:12 PM | County Działdowo Population 2,800 | |
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Weather 10°C, Wind S at 26 km/h, 57% Humidity Voivodeship Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship | ||
Iłowo-Osada [iˈwɔvɔ - ɔˈsada] (German: Illowo) is a village in Działdowo County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Iłowo-Osada. It lies approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) south-east of Działdowo and 70 km (43 mi) south of the regional capital Olsztyn.
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Map of I%C5%82owo-Osada, Poland
The village has a population of 2,800.
World War II
Following the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, Iłowo became the location of one of three sub-camps of the Soldau concentration camp in nearby Działdowo. The Iłowo transit camp existed in 1941–45. Prisoners were held at a brick building (pictured) and the adjacent barracks.
Up to 2,000 Polish children 5-years-old and younger were among the prisoners as well as pregnant women-inmates awaiting birth. The men, including Poles and the Soviets (following Operation Barbarossa), were kept there usually for several days only. Many children belonged to slave labourers already deported to the Third Reich. The children underwent selection for Germanization before being sent to German families. Among those who were not selected death rate was very high. There were no medicines in the camp and no doctors. The food and water were rationed. After giving birth women prisoners were sent back to work camps.