It was built in 1951, and its main purpose was to process uranium ore mined in nearby labor camps. Thousands of prisoners from nearby labor camps—so-called forced-labor camps—were involved in its construction and subsequent operation. These camps were where political prisoners were sent, including those who were guilty only of holding “inappropriate opinions,” practicing a certain faith, or taking a certain civic stance.

The conditions were brutal: long shifts in a radioactive environment, hunger, cold, abuse by guards, and deliberate humiliation. The prisoners bore the consequences for the rest of their lives—many died there or succumbed to illness shortly after their release.

Due to the high number of victims, the facility became known as the “Red Tower of Death.” The complex was named after the red brick tower that dominates the grounds.

It has been a cultural monument since 2008 and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. Today, it stands as a symbol of the communist regime’s repression and a warning against the abuse of power.

3D models of the labor camps in the Jáchymov area