The Old Prison Brandenburg

The old prison of Brandenburg holds a horrible history. The Nazi's used it first as concentration camp and later as extermination institution.

Brandenburg concentration camp. (August 1933 - February 1934)
KZ Brandenburg was one of the first concentration camps established by Nazi-Germany. The camp held 1.200 political prisoners. On 31 January 1924, the camp was closed and its prisoners deported to other concentration camps like Lichtenburg, Papenburg and Oranienburg. 3 communists didn't survive KZ Brandenburg.

Brandenburg extermination institution. (1939 - October 1940)
8.989 (of whom 400 Jewish) psychiatric patients were killed in this institution by poison gas. It had its own crematorium outside the walls. After the closure of the 'euthanasia clinic' in 1940, the complex was reused as prison for forced labourers and accommodation for policemen.

The prison today:
During the war, many buildings of the complex were destroyed or shortly after demolished. Nowadays there is not much left of the original complex, but it is possible to visit the memorial place located at the former prison.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Koos Winkelman