After the Nazi party came to power, the National Socialist regime began enacting laws that protected the persecution of anyone who did not conform to the racial or ideological standards of the party.
To get rid of unwanted people, hundreds of facilities were created throughout Europe, in addition to using the pre-existing facilities of the German prison system.
In the city of Potsdam, the Lindenstrasse prison was used as a detention center for unwanted people since 1933. From 1939 the place was also used by the Gestapo. It finally passed into the hands of the Potsdam People's Court in 1941, so it was dedicated exclusively to locking up people considered enemies of the regime.
From 1945 to 1953 the facilities were used by the Soviet occupiers. After 1953 the prison passed into the hands of the East German Ministry of Security -Stasi-
How to get to the Prison on Lindenstrasse
The former Lindenstrasse prison is located in the heart of the historic center of Potsdam, at Lindenstrasse 54/55.
Hours of the Prison in Lindenstrasse
- Tuesday to Sunday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
You can check the entrance prices on its official website.
Visit the Prison on Lindenstrasse
Since 1995 the former Gestapo and Stasi prison is a memorial open to the public. The facilities today show what an East German Stasi prison was like.
You can tour the different pavilions of the prison facility, enter the cells and interrogation rooms.
You can also take a tour of the facilities. The guided tours are mostly conducted in German, since in most cases it is a former inmate who leads the group to tell first-hand what happened in the place.
