Unknown location 30th Corps at German Barracks, Belsen?

These photographs were amongst the effects of a Royal Artillery Officer attached to 30th Corps. I know from other photographs that he was stationed near Belsen as there are photographs of the camp. These appear to be of German barracks newly occupied as there is evidence of battle damage to some of the buildings.

Can anyone recognise the location?

 

More.

 

Courtyard and garage area. Notice the 30th Corps Divisional Sign on the rear of the nearer lorry in the lower photograph.

 

More.

 

Good afternoon High Wood.

I'm as certain as I can be about anything nowadays that it's Fallingbostel. Not too far from Bergen-Belsen either.

Definitely Fally for me.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Ask Historic Steve .

 

Just had a quick search, twin of your large building here.

STALAG XIB / 357

Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Jim,

thank you for your help, it is appreciated.

Simon.

 

Brilliant, many thanks,

Simon

 

While the warehouses and other shots could be of Fallingbostel they could equally be of Bergen as the two barrack complexes were built at the same time and the architecture was identical. I attach photos of the warehouses at Fallingbostel but I know there were/are similar ones at Bergen (although I have never seen them). If I was a betting man I would put my money on Bergen, particularly as other photos show he was posted near to Belsen. BTW any chance of seeing those photos as well?

Best

John

 

Further to my last, here is a Google Maps shot of the Bergen warehouses. The ones in question are the four grey buildings casting long shadows.

 

John,

many thanks for posting your photographs. I am not surprised that the barrack blocks in both locations are identical. German efficiency would probably ensure that they were built to a standard plan.

I will post the other photographs tomorrow as I have to rephotograph the originals in day light.

Simon.

 

Many thanks Simon.

On closer examination of the warehouse photos I am convinced they are at Bergen:
1. There are two distinct types - one with windows, one without. The Fallingbostel warehouses are all windowed.
2. It is possible to work out from your two photos that the row is of four warehouses (alternating windows/no windows), matching the four warehouses of the Google Maps view. Fallingbostel's row has only three (I have a 1944 air photo of Fallingbostel and that confirms there were only ever three).

We need someone who knows Bergen-Hohne to confirm this. I served in Fallingbostel!

John

 

Think I have found the row of three...see attached a 1944 map of the area of JDRK's today screenshot...the row of four survive about the redevelopment!

 

Here are some of the other photographs. Most are not captioned but they speak for themselves.

 

The site of the huts. The huts were burnt down by the British army using flame throwers as they harboured Typhus.

 

Mass grave No 2. 2,500 bodies.

 

Crematoria oven.

 

Captain Billetop and fellow officer beside an oven. I am sure that this is not a tourist souvenir photograph but a way of saying, this really happened and here is the proof.

 

Rifle Range Butts, execution site and memorial.