Dachau Uprising

Dachau Uprising
Part of European theatre of World War II

Dachau concentration camp memorial
DateApril 28th, 1945- April 29th (American liberation)
Location
Result

Revolt Failed

Belligerents
Schutzstaffel
and Volkssturm units
  • Escaped Dachau Prisoners
  • Dachau citizens
  • Deserters
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Georg Schmid
Walter Neff
Georg Scherer
Casualties and losses
~35–50 SS guards killed in post-liberation reprisals
  • Several deaths, including 7 citizens who were killed or executed
  • Damage to several buildings, including the town hall, caused by the use of bazookas, anti-tank guns, and grenade launchers
  • 40 captured

The Dachau Uprising (German: Dachauer Aufstand) was a revolt of Dachau prisoners, citizens of Dachau and deserters on 28th April, 1945, aimed at disempowering party officials willing to fight, as well as Schutzstaffel (SS) and Volkssturm units during the last stages of World War II. It also sought to end Nazi rule in the town, prevent the liquidation of the concentration camp and the murder of the surviving prisoners.

In late April 1945, as Allied forces approached, the SS began evacuating prisoners from the Dachau concentration camp to prevent their liberation. At least 10.000 inmates from the Dachau camp and it's satellite camps were forced onto grueling death marches toward Tyrol. Thousands perished along the way due to exhaustion, starvation, and mistreatment.