In March, Mr. Hauswaldt’s history course visited the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial, also known as the "Stasi Prison." From 1945 to 1946, before the Ministry for State Security (commonly known as the “Stasi”) took over the site, the building was used by the Soviet secret service. This occurred after the Soviets seized the site in May 1945, which had housed a large kitchen operated by the National Socialist People's Welfare (NSV) since 1939. The Soviets established what was known as Special Camp No. 3. By November 1946, the camp held over 4,200 people at once in extremely cramped conditions, with catastrophic hygiene, insufficient food, and poor medical care. Most prisoners were (alleged) members of the NSDAP and other representatives of the Nazi regime, but also included so-called saboteurs, spies, and terrorists.

After Special Camp No. 3 was dissolved, some prisoners remained and were forced to build windowless, bunker-like cells in the basement of the former large kitchen. These cells were used from 1947 onwards by the Soviet secret service as a central interrogation prison. The cells can still be visited today and give visitors a better sense of the inhumane conditions. Prisoners, who lived in cells equipped only with a wooden plank bed and a bucket, were subjected to hours of interrogation, often accompanied by physical violence, to extract (sometimes fabricated) confessions. In addition to former Nazi officials, many of the detainees were suspected political opponents.

From 1951 onwards, the newly founded Ministry for State Security took over the prison and, together with the newly completed building in 1960, held around 11,000 people there until 1989. Among them were politicians, such as former GDR Foreign Minister Georg Dertinger of the CDU. Towards the end of the 1950s, forced laborers built the new prison facility. With the Stasi takeover, physical torture gave way to no less harmful psychological torture methods. The prison was closed on October 3, 1990, when East Germany joined the Federal Republic of Germany.

Since 1994, the site has served as a memorial, and in 2000 it became a public foundation. Daily tours are offered by staff members or eyewitnesses. We also had the opportunity to take part in one of these tours. It was led by Ms. Richter, a "secondary" eyewitness whose father was also imprisoned in the facility. She was therefore able to explain the living conditions over the years in great detail. Her account was supported by visual impressions of both the old and new parts of the prison. In addition to exploring the "new" and "old" cells, which have been reconstructed including their furnishings, the memorial also displays original prison transport vehicles, which we were able to view. Interrogation rooms from the newer part of the building were also open for visitation. A digital display of various contents, such as inmate profiles, provided an additional way to explore this historically significant place. In the following history lessons, a more detailed evaluation of the excursion will take place, potentially with the inclusion of another eyewitness.

(Noah, Q4)