In 1933, construction began on fifteen Emsland camps in the Emsland region. The National Socialist regime used these camps to imprison its political opponents in an attempt to change their views. Sometimes, mere suspicion of opposition to the Nazi regime was enough to justify imprisonment. The Emsland camps served various functions: some were under state authority, while others were run by the SS. They were used for preventive detention, punishment, and later for housing prisoners of war and so-called "Night and Fog" prisoners—individuals who were meant to disappear without a trace. Many were forced to labor in the surrounding peatlands or were deployed in agriculture and the war industry.

Esterwegen was the seventh labor and penal camp. Here, too, individuals who spoke out against the regime were imprisoned. Prisoners were subjected to grueling physical labor and were often abused. One of these prisoners was cabaret artist Werner Finck. In Berlin, he was known for his satirical attacks on the regime, particularly his mockery of Hermann Göring. During a performance at the Kabarett der Komiker in a room full of Nazi supporters, he made a daring remark: "Heute sind wir offen, gestern waren wir zu, aber wann ich heute zu offen bin, sind wir morgen wieder zu." ("Today we are open, yesterday we were closed, but if I am too open today, we will be closed again tomorrow.") Shortly after this remark, he was arrested and sent to Esterwegen. Despite his imprisonment, he continued to perform, this time for his fellow prisoners. He was eventually released on the condition that he would not perform for a year. To avoid further imprisonment, he enlisted in the Wehrmacht as a communications officer. After the war, he resumed his career until he died in 1978.

The Gedenkstätte Esterwegen serves as a place of remembrance for the prisoners and the conditions in which they lived. The museum features numerous personal stories that bring the history of the camp and the Emsland camps back to life.