Iłowo-Osada


Iłowo-Osada is a village in Działdowo County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Iłowo-Osada. It lies approximately south-east of Działdowo and south of the regional capital Olsztyn.
The village has a population of 2,800.

World War II

Following the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, Iłowo became the location of one of three sub-camps of the Soldau concentration camp in nearby Działdowo. The Iłowo transit camp existed in 1941–45. Prisoners were held at a brick building and the adjacent barracks.
Up to 2,000 Polish children 5-years-old and younger were among the prisoners as well as pregnant women-inmates awaiting birth. The men, including Poles and the Soviets, were kept there usually for several days only. Many children belonged to slave labourers already deported to the Third Reich. The children underwent selection for Germanization before being sent to German families. Among those who were not selected death rate was very high. There were no medicines in the camp and no doctors. The food and water were rationed. After giving birth women prisoners were sent back to work camps.

Notable residents