Kohnstein

The Kohnstein is a hill range in the Harz mountains of Germany, located near Nordhausen in Thuringia. It is notable for its extensive network of tunnels and caverns, most of which were created during World War II for the Mittelwerk, a large underground factory complex.

During the war, the Kohnstein was the site of forced labor under brutal conditions. Inmates from the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp and other subcamps were forced to excavate the tunnels and assemble V-2 rockets and other weapons for the Nazi regime. Thousands of prisoners died due to malnutrition, exhaustion, disease, and mistreatment.

Today, the Kohnstein and the former Mittelwerk site are preserved as a memorial and museum. Visitors can tour sections of the tunnel system and learn about the history of the site, including the forced labor and the production of the V-2 rocket. The memorial serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Nazi era and the importance of remembering the victims of the Holocaust and forced labor.

The geology of the Kohnstein is predominantly composed of Zechstein gypsum and anhydrite, which contributed to the ease of tunnel excavation but also presented challenges due to instability and the presence of groundwater.

The site is of historical significance due to its role in the development and production of advanced weaponry during World War II and the immense human suffering that occurred there.