Help me to renovate a former kz prisoners shelter

Historical facts

The farmstead was built in the 16th or 17th century AD. These origins are reflected in the characteristic church-roof structure of the truss, which was common in clergy buildings at that time.

Unfortunately, this is as precise as we can determine the building’s age today. The last written evidence dates from 1859, when the owners at the time reconstructed the barn.

With its impressive age of more than 400 years, the farmstead has been witness to countless historical events like the Thirty Years’ War, the Napoleonic Wars and the First and Second World Wars.

It was especially during the Second World War that this building played a considerable role:

In the final stages of World War II, Allied and Soviet forces approaching from both sides, a “Death March” set out from the Dachau concentration camp, driving prisoners south. The camp in Dachau was freed by US troops only days later.

This Death March also took the prisoners past this farm. My great-grandfather, who owned it at the time, took in as many of the persecuted Jews as he could and gave them shelter and food so they could recover from the exertions of the march.

A few days later, the US army also reached this farm and picked up the survivors. They thanked my great-grandfather for his help.

Only a few years later, the farmstead began to decay. There wasn’t enough money to maintain it.

Today I am turning to you for help, to preserve this historic farmstead for the world as a testimony of European history and to make it shine in new splendour.

What is more: I want to refurbish the farmstead so it can once again become a home to families and be filled with new life.

What’s the plan?

The front house will be preserved and refurbished and the entire farm building will be fitted with new windows and doors and will be repainted. Moreover, I want to completely renovate the interior.

I also want to turn the run-down barn into a living space and thus create additional room which can serve as accommodation for hikers in the future to keep the memory of the March alive.

To do justice to the historic legacy of the building, I want to symbiotically combine old and historic elements of the house with modern impulses. Thus, old planks, beams and bricks will be visibly reused to thus preserve the venerable character of the house.

As you can see, the roof as well as the flooring have already been partly refurbished.

Unfortunately, I am only a student and have already run out of money. I therefore can’t get a loan from the bank for my project and time is also running out, as the building permit is going to expire in a few months. If I don’t manage to raise the necessary amount for construction by then, a testimony of centuries will be lost forever.

We can’t let that happen!

What amount are we talking about?

Some of the ceilings and walls will have to be completely rebuilt due to the poor condition they’re in. Moreover, the costs for water and electricity supply as well as full refurbishment of the interior and the stabilization of the exterior wall will have to be met.

The reconstruction of the walls will cost about 410,000.00 Euros

Water, electricity, heating, pipes 150,000.00 Euros

Interior and exterior refurbishing using original components which have to be preserved for this purpose 200,000.00 Euros

Sewage system, road construction, windows and doors 50,000.00 Euros

Development costs for the property (I have to buy the field surrounding the house from its owner to be granted a full building permit)

€100.00/sqm x 1200 sqm = 120,000.00 Euros

Preserving the historic well: appr. 20,000 Euros

In total, the costs will amount to ca. 950,000 Euros in a cautious calculation.

Approval

I will take pictures of any progress in the construction process and upload them on YouTube so you can make sure your money goes to the right purpose and you can follow the saving and the future of the building.

Any surplus amounts will be donated to UNICEF to support aid and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake in Sulawesi.

Please support me in preserving this piece of history with the dignity it deserves.

Thank you all very much for your interest and your support!