Oertel Villa (Abandoned)

A new chapter was opened in the Oertelsbruch during the Second World War - the National Socialists took over the slate quarry in 1943. Due to the destruction of the Peenemünde Army Establishment in August 1943, rocket production was systematically relocated underground. The Oertelsbruch represented the "Vorwerk Mitte" and was to serve as a production and storage facility for V2 rockets. The Laura concentration camp subcamp was built, housing almost 1,230 prisoners of war who had to work as forced laborers in the Oertelsbruch. The prisoners expanded the tunnel system, which was 7 kilometers long at its maximum expansion stage. Until the end of the war, the V2 rockets were mainly tested, defects were corrected and prepared for shipping.Engineers and high-ranking SS men moved into the Oertels villa. A telephone system was installed in the villa, which was connected to the underground halls. The SS could get from the villa into the underground tunnel system via a tunnel.

The history of the Oertels villa is interesting: first it was a factory owner's villa, then the command center of the armaments factory and the "Laura" concentration camp subcamp, and then a training center for slate workers until the early 1980s. After that it served as a rich source of wood and scrap thieves. Entire ceilings, wood paneling and power cables were stolen. The formerly magnificent villa has long since fallen into disrepair.

The Hauptmannsbruch has been located north of Lehesten since the beginning of the 19th century. In 1849, the entrepreneur Ernst Oertel bought it. After his death 14 years later, his son Karl took over. He founded a second quarry: the Karlsbruch or Oertel II. The high demand for slate meant that by the end of the 19th century the Oertel company became one of the largest slate companies in Europe.
The quarries were connected to the railway network. Around 860 people worked for the company at the time. Karl Oertel cared about the well-being of his employees: among other things, he built a commercial building with a kitchen, dining room, bakery and brewery, a library, a school, a company hospital with its own health insurance fund and an electricity plant.