Population of Dachau
The first year Dachau opened, it had 4,800 prisoners. At this time, it consisted mainly of German Communists, Social Democrats, trade unionists, and other political opponents of the Nazi regime.
As Dachau began to increase in size, different groups of people were also made prisoners. This included: Jehovah's Witnesses, Roma (Gypsies), homosexuals, "asocials" and repeat criminal offenders. Dachau also had more than 30 subcamps that housed over 30,000 prisoners.
During early years of the camp, very few Jewish people were prisoners. But, after Kristallnacht on November 10-11, 1938, the Jewish prisoners at Dachau increased to about 10,000 Jewish men.
On April 26, 1945 there were 67,665 registered prisoners. 43,350 prisoners were political prisoners, 22,100 prisoners were Jewish, and the rest came from other various groups. Between 1933 and 1945 the number of prisoners at the main camp and subcamps exceeded 188,000. It has been estimated that over 28,000 prisoners were killed at Dachau, but it is impossible to know exactly how many people perished because of unregistered prisoners (USHMM).
As Dachau began to increase in size, different groups of people were also made prisoners. This included: Jehovah's Witnesses, Roma (Gypsies), homosexuals, "asocials" and repeat criminal offenders. Dachau also had more than 30 subcamps that housed over 30,000 prisoners.
During early years of the camp, very few Jewish people were prisoners. But, after Kristallnacht on November 10-11, 1938, the Jewish prisoners at Dachau increased to about 10,000 Jewish men.
On April 26, 1945 there were 67,665 registered prisoners. 43,350 prisoners were political prisoners, 22,100 prisoners were Jewish, and the rest came from other various groups. Between 1933 and 1945 the number of prisoners at the main camp and subcamps exceeded 188,000. It has been estimated that over 28,000 prisoners were killed at Dachau, but it is impossible to know exactly how many people perished because of unregistered prisoners (USHMM).