Why was there a concentration camp in Leonberg?

The entrance to the “Engelbergtunnel” north side, after removal of the concrete protection walls. Photo from the post-war period.

The concentration camp was built to offer fast, cheap human labour to the arms industry. Because of the air raids performed by the Allied Forces, the Nazis moved the manufacturing facilities into subterranean premises. That`s why the “Engelbergtunnel” was closed for traffic and converted. The “Messerschmitt” enterprise now produced wings for the jet fighter ME 262 in the two tunnel tubes. It was part of the “Wunderwaffen” (miracle weapons) – programme, which many people regarded as the only hope of securing a final victory. But the war had already been long lost by then.