1870-1871

During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), there were organized several POW camps in Silesia, including the one in the vicinity of the village of Lamsdorf. The Prussian authorities used the military range which had been established earlier to set up this camp. The first POWs arrived in this place in the fall of 1870 (7 December 1870 is accepted to be the official date of starting its activity). The first POWs who were released, on the other hand, left the camp as early as in March 1871, still before signing the peace treaty. The majority of POWs left Lamsdorf in the spring of 1871.

The research conducted to date indicates that the POWs were detained in two places in the military range: the first was the foot artillery range (Fußlager), the other one – the camp of field artillery (Feldlager). At a later time, these places were called Camp I and Camp II (Lager I and Lager II). The POWs who were interned there most probably took part also in developing the camps’ infrastructure. The overall number of the French soldiers who were accommodated in the camps is estimated at about 6 thousand. The graves of 52 of them, together with the monument dedicated to the dead, are found in the Old POW Cemetery.