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.