• »Köpenick Week of Blood June 1933« Memorial
The exhibition at the »Köpenick Week of Blood June 1933« Memorial commemorates the political opponents of the National Socialist regime who were tortured and murdered by the SA in June 1933.
Image: Berlin-Köpenick, 2000, Memorial in the central part of the prison building, Gedenkstätte Köpenicker Blutwoche, Claus-Dieter Sprink
Berlin-Köpenick, 2000, Memorial in the central part of the prison building, Gedenkstätte Köpenicker Blutwoche, Claus-Dieter Sprink
Prior to the National Socialist rise to power in January 1933, the SA (Sturmabteilung, English: stormtroopers) of the NSDAP was primarily responsible for securing the party's propaganda rallies, but it also took part in street fights. After January 1933, the SA could single-handedly arrest people and set up prisons. An unprecedented wave of violence directed against political opponents and Jews followed. On June 21, 1933, the SA appropriated the courthouse prison in Berlin's Köpenick district and set up its central prison and torture site there. In the days that followed, members of the SA, assisted by SS and Gestapo groups, haphazardly arrested several hundred people from Berlin-Köpenick and neighbouring districts. They were accused of political activities against the new leadership. Many of the prisoners were brought to hastily set up SA »storm premises« and to the former courthouse prison. Members of the SA interrogated and tortured men and women in the former chapel of the courthouse prison. Many of them did not survive the tortures.
Image: Berlin-Köpenick, 2000, Memorial in the central part of the prison building, Gedenkstätte Köpenicker Blutwoche, Claus-Dieter Sprink
Berlin-Köpenick, 2000, Memorial in the central part of the prison building, Gedenkstätte Köpenicker Blutwoche, Claus-Dieter Sprink
The incarcerated and tortured men and women were members of various political parties and orientations. Jews and ideological opponents of National Socialism were also among the victims. It is estimated that 23 opponents of National Socialism were murdered in the week of June 21 to 26, 1933, by members of the SA in Berlin-Köpenick.
Image: Berlin, 2008, Commemorative wall to the victims of the »Köpenick Week of Blood«, Uwe Meinel
Berlin, 2008, Commemorative wall to the victims of the »Köpenick Week of Blood«, Uwe Meinel
In May 1980, the first memorial to the victims of the »Köpenick Week of Blood« was set up in a basement cell of the former prison. It was significantly extended in September 1987, and presented to the public as a »showcase of the tradition of anti-fascist struggle in Berlin-Köpenick 1933-1945«. Since June 1993, the »Köpenick Week of Blood June 1933« Memorial hat been located here. It is administered by the district authority of Treptow-Köpenick and is subordinate to the Treptow-Köpenick museum of local history department, which is aided by a support association. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the »Köpenick Week of Blood« a new permanent exhibition was opened at the site.
Image: Berlin, 2008, Cell tract on the upper floor of the memorial, Uwe Meinel
Berlin, 2008, Cell tract on the upper floor of the memorial, Uwe Meinel

Name
Gedenkstätte »Köpenicker Blutwoche Juni 1933«
Address
Puchanstraße 12
12555 Berlin
Phone
+49 (0)30 902 973 350
Fax
+49 (0)30 902 973 350
Web
http://www.gedenkstaette-koepenicker-blutwoche.org/
E-Mail
museum@ba-tk.berlin.de
Open
Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Possibilities
Guided tours outside of the opening hours by appointment, audio and document archive, reference library