In March 1945, "SS-Oberscharführer" Ludwig Runzheimer began in the position of task-force leader at Espeland, and introduced a draconian regime. He made exhaustive punitive exercises a daily affair, not taking age or health into account, and several inmates suffered injuries and trauma as a result. Sometimes prisoners were physically beaten and trampled. This carried on until Germany's capitulation on 8 May 1945.