Refugees in Germany are being housed in the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald (pictured), where thousands of slave-labourers were once held

Abdurahman Massa, from northern Eritrea, is housed with Ayaya Tsinat, 21, in room number two while he waits for his refugee application to be accepted.

The 20-year-old said he does not mind what the building was before, adding: ‘This is good for me.’

Another refugee known as Diaoyre, from Algeria, said he’d been living in the building for one week.

He added: ‘It is good here. Many others don’t even have this.’

The news that the camp, which has basic cooking facilities and bunk beds, would become home to refugees was originally announced in January.

Around 250,000 people from across Europe were kept in Buchenwald from when it opened in July 1937. It was one of the largest concentration camps in Germany.

Inmates were subjected to horrific medical experiments – including doctors attempting to ‘cure’ homosexuality through hormonal transplants – and many were forced to work for hours at a time.

At least 56,000 male prisoners were killed at the camp, many shot in the stables.

The original labour buildings have been demolished but critics still questioned the decision.

Refugees Abdurahman Massa, 20, and Ayaya Tsinat, 21, have been given a home in a branch of the former Nazi concentration camp

Refugees Abdurahman Massa, 20, and Ayaya Tsinat, 21, have been given a home in a branch of the former Nazi concentration camp

Photographs from the building show how the 21 asylum-seekers have made the place their home

Around 250,000 people from across Europe were kept in Buchenwald from when it opened in July 1937 until the liberation on April 11 in 1945, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

It was one of the largest concentration camps in Germany, although women were not taken there until late 1943. It was surrounded by an electrified barbed-wire fence, watchtowers and sentries.

Most of the early inmates were political prisoners, but following the Kristallnacht attacks in 1938 almost 10,000 Jews were sent to Buchenwald and subjected to astonishingly cruel treatment.

Around 250,000 people - including these men - were kept in Buchenwald from when it opened in July 1937 until the liberation on April 11 in 1945, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Around 250,000 people – including these men – were kept in Buchenwald from when it opened in July 1937 until the liberation on April 11 in 1945, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Medical experiments were carried out on inmates from 1941 – some of which involved testing the effectiveness of vaccines and attempting to ‘cure’ homosexuality through hormonal transplants.

There were 112,000 prisoners there by February 1945 and it became an important source of forced labour for the Nazis, who opened a rail siding connected to enable the movement of war supplies.

The SS shot prisoners in the stables and hanged others in the crematorium. Shocking scenes were witnessed by U.S. forces when they entered the camp in April, finding starving survivors and corpses.

It is thought the SS killed at least 56,000 male prisoners at Buchenwald, 11,000 of whom were Jews.

American troops and survivors sit by a sign after the notorious camp was liberated in April 1945

American troops and survivors sit by a sign after the notorious camp was liberated in April 1945

Prisoners, all dressed in the same striped uniform, were made to stand outside during a roll call in the late 1930s

Prisoners, all dressed in the same striped uniform, were made to stand outside during a roll call in the late 1930s

The Mayor of Berlin’s Mitte district, Christian Hanke, said: ‘It is an emergency solution, but it is unavoidable. There is a lot of room in the hangars.’

The pictures of the refugees living at the camp emerged as Germany opened its doors to refugees fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria.

The country is now bracing itself to receive 800,000 asylum-seekers this year – four times the 2014 total.

Chancellor Angela Merkel described the influx as ‘breathtaking’ and said it would change the make-up of Germany forever.

She said: ‘What we are experiencing now is something that will occupy and change our country in coming years.

‘The world sees Germany as a country of hope and opportunity — that was not always the case.’

One refugees stands next to an oven and several hobs, which have been provided for the men while they stay on the site

One refugees stands next to an oven and several hobs, which have been provided for the men while they stay on the site

The original labour buildings have been demolished, with minimalistic kitchens and bunk beds added, but critics still questioned the decision

The original labour buildings have been demolished, with minimalistic kitchens and bunk beds added, but critics still questioned the decision

Angela Merkel pledged an extra 6 billion euros on Monday to help the record numbers of desperate refugees crossing its borders. Above, Mr Massa and Mr Tsinat wait for their applications for asylum to be approved

She also pledged an extra 6 billion euros on Monday to help the record numbers of desperate refugees crossing its borders.

Families, men and children are making the hazardous journey across the Mediterranean in a bid to reach the safety of western Europe.

Many became stuck in Budapest when Hungarian authorities refused to grant them asylum and would not let them move on.

After days of debate, ‘special’ trains were laid on to take thousands of migrants to Germany, where Ms Merkel said they would be welcome.

Many arrived at Frankfurt and Munich stations carrying pictures of the Chancellor out of respect.

It is thought 70,000 asylum-seekers have already arrived at the main processing centre in Dortmund Hacheney, which is close to Buchenwald and has a capacity of 350 people.