The labor camps were run by the Dutch Labor Service, following the German example with a military slant. The activities of the workers mainly consisted of reclamation work, building roads, carrying out land consolidation and helping farmers to bring in the harvest. In Drenthe there were labor camps at Diever, Drouwen, Gasselte, Hooghalen, Odoorn, Schoonloo, Vledder, Westerbork and Zweeloo, among others.
At the end of 1940 a start was made with the training of executives for the Labor Service and at the beginning of 1941 a start was made with the development and furnishing of the camp in Gasselte. Halfway through 1942, after a delay in construction, the first workers were stationed in Gasselte. (source Gasselte ’40-’45)