"And where was Rudolf Hess sitting here?" is a common question from visitors to Spandau Citadel. The answer is: "Nowhere."
Image gallery
Comiczeichnung vom Spandauer Prison mit dem Schriftzug "Spandau Prison" und den Jahreszahlen 1877 - 1987
The so-called war criminals' prison, with Hess as its last inmate, was located in Spandau's Wilhelmstadt district. In 1877, work began there on a new "Central Fortress Prison," which, from 1881 onward, housed soldiers and prisoners of war who had committed crimes.
After a spectacular liberation operation during the November Revolution of 1918, the building, designed to hold 300 prisoners, served as a prison for civilians until 1933. Immediately after the Reichstag fire, the Nazi government used the prison as a place of "preventive protective custody." Until 1945, a large number of political prisoners were held here, most of whom were sentenced to death – for the first time, these included women, particularly from the Polish resistance.
Immerse yourself in the prison's multifaceted history on this public tour. Together we'll discover objects and photographs, some of which are being shown for the first time, while interviews with contemporary witnesses offer new perspectives. The unusual idea of translating certain events into the visual language of comics also invites reflection and discussion.
(IN GERMAN)
Additional information
Meeting point: Armory at the Spandau Citadel
Booking: Registration is not necessary.
Booking: Registration is not necessary.
