„The Camp’s surroundings are anything but idyllic. The country is exceptionally poor....with ist huge areas covered by heather, it‘s bogs, the reeds, occasionally spotted with some fir copses and wind-bent, crippled birches. It is mainly a region of peat. (....) On the banks of the river Oste are some meagre, reed covered willows, flooded for nine months of the year.
Very wet maritime climate. Three quarters of the year it’s raining or the sky is hidden by fog. In the rest of the time, in summer, the sun is quite warm and the wind rises dust from peat and sand, making it nearly impossible to breath. One feels like in the Arabian desert. The winters are more wet than cold. Unhealthy region.Rheumatism, airways‘ diseases and tuberculosis find ideal conditions here.“
Description by French POW Gaston Aufrere

In this surroundings, the Freiwillige Arbeitsdienst Deutschland (German Volunteer Working Organisation – raised by the church) did start building the Camp in 1932, one year later itwas taken over by the Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Working Organisation).

1939 After the 1st of September, initially British civil internees and Polish prisoners of war are accomodated in large tents.

1940 Belgian and French prisoners arrive

1941 POWs from Serbia and the USSR come into the Camp

1943 Arrival of Italian military internees

1944 Polish women from the Warsaw Ghetto join the prisoners

1945 From April 12th onwards, Concentration Camp prisoners from Neuengamme and it’s outlying camps are driven to Sandbostel

On April 29th, Britsh troops liberate the Camp

In the beginning of June, the last POWs and KZ prisoners have left the Camp. The British install then an Internee Camp for SS and Nazi Leaders as well as for guard troops of KZs.

1948 Establishment of a prisoner camp as outlying detachment from Celle Penitentiary

1952 The camp becomes a transitory accomodation for male escapees from the German Democratic Republic, aged 14 till 24

1960 The juvenile camp is dissolved and transferred to the German Central Gouvernment

1974 Privatization of the Camp’s ground and Installation of commercial estate „Immenhain“

1992 The historical buildings of the former POW Camp and the Reserve Hospital are placed under the Protection of Monuments Law