• Memorial and Documentation Site »Victims of Political Dictatorship« 1933–1945 / 1945–1989
The Memorial and Documentation Site »Victims of Political Dictatorship«, located in a former prison building in Frankfurt (Oder), documents the fates of people who were persecuted on political grounds under National Socialism, under the Soviet occupation regime and in the GDR.
Image: Frankfurt (Oder), before 1933, The prison building, view from the east, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder), before 1933, The prison building, view from the east, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina

Image: Frankfurt (Oder), 1995, Exterior view of the building, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder), 1995, Exterior view of the building, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
During the National Socialist period, the Gestapo used the historic court prison in Frankfurt (Oder) to incarcerate political opponents. Many of the inmates were brutally abused and tortured by the Gestapo. After the Second World War, Soviet security police used the prison as an internment prison. Around 1950, the prison was taken over by the GDR Ministry of Security and run as a detention facility until 1969. Between 1969 and 1989, the detention facility was operated by the GDR police.
Image: Frankfurt (Oder), before 1933, The prison building, view from the east, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder), before 1933, The prison building, view from the east, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina

Image: Frankfurt (Oder), 1995, Exterior view of the building, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder), 1995, Exterior view of the building, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
The Gestapo conducted executions at the prison. Several prisoners died of the abuse suffered at the hands of the Gestapo during the National Socialist period. At the beginning of the the 1950s, executions were once again carried out at the prison.
Image: Frankfurt (Oder), 2005, Visitors at the memorial site, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder), 2005, Visitors at the memorial site, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Since January 2004, the Federal Commissioner for Stasi Archives (BStU) established the memorial site on the basis of a cooperation agreement with the City of Frankfurt (Oder). The city continues to run the memorial site. The Memorial and Documentation Site displays an exhibition in five former prison cells. The part of the exhibition dealing with the National Socialist period was compiled by the Municipal Museum Viadrina. The exhibition contents concerning the period after 1945 were drawn up by the BStU.
Image: Frankfurt (Oder), 1989, Courtyard on the eastern side, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina
Frankfurt (Oder), 1989, Courtyard on the eastern side, Städtische Museen Junge Kunst und Viadrina

Name
Gedenk- und Dokumentationsstätte »Opfer politischer Gewaltherrschaft« 1933–1945 / 1945–1989
Address
Collegienstraße 10
15230 Frankfurt/Oder
Phone
+49 (0) 335 680 271 2
Fax
+49 (0) 335 401 561 1
Web
http://www.museum-viadrina.de/museum/gedenkstatte/
E-Mail
gedenkstaette@museum-viadrina.de
Open
Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment
Possibilities
Guided tours by appointment