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The Frøslev Camp Museum
The Frøslev Camp Museum
Lejrvejen 83
6330 Padborg
Phone: +45 41 20 60 53
Photo: Raul Hirian
German Internment Camp 1944–1945
Frøslevlejren was built in 1944 during the German occupation of Denmark as a German internment camp. Several thousand Danes were imprisoned here as prisoners of the German Security Police.
Although the camp was established to prevent the deportation of Danish citizens to concentration camps in Germany, approximately 1,600 Frøslev prisoners were nevertheless deported to German concentration camps, contrary to all agreements.
Frøslevlejren is unique in a European context. The Germans accepted that the Danish prison authorities were responsible for providing food for the prisoners, and torture, violence, humiliation and executions were virtually non-existent in the camp.
Around 12,000 prisoners passed through Frøslevlejren during the nine months it existed.
Danish Internment and Penal Camp 1945–1949
From May 1945 until autumn 1949, the camp operated under the name Fårhuslejren (Fårhus Camp) as an internment and penal camp during the legal purge following the Second World War.
Fårhuslejren was the largest of the so-called “special penal camps for collaborators”. During the four and a half years of its operation, more than 5,000 people were imprisoned there for shorter or longer periods.
The Exhibitions
Frøslevlejrens Museum, part of the National Museum of Denmark, has three exhibition buildings:
In the main watchtower T1 and the former prisoner barrack H4, the story of Frøslevlejren 1944–1945 is presented.
Some rooms remain as they were, while others contain exhibitions about German surveillance of the camp, daily life of the prisoners, deportations to German concentration camps and the evacuation with the White Buses.
Barrack H6 presents the history of Fårhuslejren 1945–1949, with a special focus on the German minority in Sønderjylland, who were particularly affected by the post-war legal purge.
Also for Children and Young People
Allow 2–3 hours for your visit – preferably longer. There are several activities for children and young people, including an escape room where participants help prisoners attempt to escape. For younger children, there are engaging activities such as word and information hunts around the camp (ask at the ticket office for details).
You are welcome to bring a packed lunch, which can be enjoyed at the picnic tables on site. Ice cream, sweets and drinks can be purchased at the kiosk, where you will also find souvenirs – from books to posters and magnets.
If you are wearing hiking boots, do not miss the newly certified day route Frøslev-Poldestien. The trail runs directly through the camp and is available as a 6 km or 10 km route. It is known as a “Hærvej Pearl”, meaning it forms part of the historic Hærvej route.
Check the Calendar
Frøslevlejrens Museum / National Museum of Denmark hosts various guided tours, lectures and events throughout the year (except December and January). Tickets must be purchased separately from the entrance ticket (see the museum’s website). Annual passes are also available.
Free Museums
When visiting Frøslevlejren, you will find several free museums on the site, including the UN Museum and the Emergency Management Museum.
