Bautzen II

From 1906 to 1933 the building served as a relatively commonplace prison linked to the encircling police headquarters and courtrooms to the south on Lessingstrasse.

Occupancy was general short pre-trial periods and shorter sentences for lesser crimes at post-trial.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933 Bautzen became a place where political prisoners, especially those with communist views, were imprisoned.

People aiding escape to the West were regularly sentenced to 15 years, a harsh punishment designed as a strong deterrent.

During this period Amnesty International became involved both in prison conditions and the nature of those imprisoned.

From 1989 a small number of petty criminals (a maximum of 23) were still held in the prison, but in January 1992 it closed completely.

It is accessed from the north-east, as the police headquarters and law courts remain operational to south, east and west.

The outer buildings contain a self-service cafe and a display of East German prison transport.

Bautzen II as seen from the north-west
The central stairs in Bautzen II
Cells in Bautzen II
Ground floor corridor, Bautzen II
Exercise yard at Bautzen II including concrete table tennis tables
One of the punishment cells, Bautzen II