Kobior subcamp ('Aussenkommando Kobier') and Pszczyna forest 'Kommandos (Forstkommandos Pless')

At the start of World War II the German economy started suffering from a shortage of labour caused by the mass conscription of young men into the army and the increased demand for arms production. By 1942 the problem had become so acute that, in addition to the millions of Poles, Russians and Frenchmen deported to Germany as forced labourers, the general mobilization now included concentration camp prisoners. This process included KL Auschwitz. A particular feature were the 'forest camps' near Pszczynz, Radostowice , Miedzyrzecze and Kobior. In all these camps prisoners had to do hard physical labour, were inadequately fed and clothed, and the death rate was high. The reason why these camps were formed was the need to excavate and burn the corpses of thousands of murdered prisoners