The camp at Berg was founded upon an initiative in the fall of 1941 from the Norwegian fascist Nasjonal Samling party, despite some opposition from the German occupying authorities, SS leader Wilhelm Rediess in particular.

The main advocates for the camp were Minister of Justice Sverre Riisnæs,[2] mayor Bjerck of Tønsberg, and head of the local fascist paramilitary organization, the Hirden, in Vestfold, Eivind Wallestad.

During the month before their deportation to Germany en route for Auschwitz, the Jewish prisoners were put to hard labor, expanding the camp.

They worked seven days a week from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm, subsisting on a quarter loaf of bread, soup from flowers, and ersatz coffee.

The local Red Cross chapter, led by Anton Jervell, made attempts to provide relief to the prisoners with mixed success.