Revision Guide – History Around Us Stasi Prison

The Gryphon School

GCSE HISTORY

UNIT 3: HISTORY AROUND US

The Prohibited District: Berlin Hohenschonhausen

REVISION GUIDE

The exam:

You will take one exam of one hour for this unit.

You will be required to answer TWO questions out of a choice of three.

Note: Each school has chosen a different site to study, so questions will always refer to “your site” rather than Hohenschonhausen.

SPECIMEN PAPER:

As part of your GCSE (9–1) History B (Schools History Project) course you have studied a historical site and what remains of it today.

Refer to features from the site as well as other sources you have studied and your own knowledge of the past to help you with the questions below.

You may find it helpful to draw a simple sketch of the site you have studied before you start. This may remind you of its main features. You are advised to spend no more than three minutes doing this.

In your answers, you may include simple sketches of features that can be seen at your site if you think this will help you to explain your ideas.

Answer any two questions

1. Did your site change dramatically over its history? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

Spelling, punctuation and grammar [5]

2. Explain how we can know that your site was important to people at a particular time in its history. Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

Spelling, punctuation and grammar [5]

3. Imagine that an artist has been hired to do a painting of life at your site, or part of your site, at a particular time in its past. What would you tell the artist to help make the painting historically accurate? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

Spelling, punctuation and grammar [5]

Tips:

 Make sure you look at the focus of the question.  Use details from your site to address the focus of the question.  Long answers are expected, so plan your answer. Think of at least three key points you can develop with a paragraph on each.

INTRODUCTION

Historians can study at international, national and local level. This unit involves studying the History of a specific site on a local scale. This study will develop your skills at using sources of evidence to reconstruct the past to show how History can be seen around us, wherever we live.

This unit focuses on the prohibited district of Hohenschonhausen in Berlin.

It is a site that reflects the development of Berlin, the capital city of Germany. And lots of very important events took place here.

The reasons for the location of the site within its surroundings

Berlin grew into a very large city in the C19th. It was the centre of a lot of industry. The city centre was made up of rich town houses and big public buildings, but the outskirts of the city were largely industrial areas and workers’ houses.

Hohenschonhausen industrial district

Berlin city centre

Why was Hohenschonhausen a good location for manufacturing industry, such as brick building?

• Near railway lines and goods station • Near river Spree and canals NOTE: heavy goods need good transport links • Good roads link it to the city centre • Near workers • Near the city where industrial goods would be needed. So near its market.

The Prison and Prohibited District

By the end of the Second World War the area was destroyed by heavy bombing. When Germany was defeated in the War, Berlin, like Germany as a whole, was divided into four occupation zones. Hohenschonhausen was in the Soviet

(Russian) zone of East Berlin. The Soviet forces needed a prison to hold Nazi prisoners and political enemies. They chose the site at Hohenschonhausen.

Why did the Soviet forces choose this site to build a prison?

• The area had been destroyed during the War. • There was a lot of building debris to use in rebuilding. • It was close to the Soviet government HQ in the city. • It had good communication links but was away from the city centre. Near railway lines and goods station.

How useful are maps when studying a site?

 Maps useful for showing location and reasons for it.  Maps can be compared to see change through time. Maps of Berlin show rapid growth during C19th (time of the industrial revolution)  DDR (East Germany) maps show only a blank area. This suggests secretive nature of the activities in the area. BUT  Maps give no definite information about what goes on INSIDE the buildings.  Does not tell us about conditions in the area eg workers lives.  Photos can be used to fill out information from the maps to get a three dimensional picture.

When and why people first created the site

The site was first used as an industrial site with factories in 1910. Reasons:  See points about the advantages of its location in section 1.

The site was first used as a prison in 1945. It was set up by the Soviet authorities of Communist Russia after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

When Germany was defeated the country was divided into four zones by the Allied powers (Britain, France the USA and the USSR).

Why did the Soviet authorities need a prison in Germany in 1945? • To hold former Nazis • For suspected Nazis • March 1946 the prison was incorporated into a restricted district to detain political opponents of the Soviet occupation forces. • The Soviets also housed members of their secret police (NKVD) here.

Who built the prison? The prison was built under the orders of the Red Army (the army of the Soviet Union). They used forced labour from the Asid Factory that was on the site of the restricted area.

The nature of the Soviet prison

Key: 1 Prison 2 unloading area A equipment store W watch commando B petrol storage S store L station halt TZ communications centre TP Watch tower

 It was organised so that supplies could be brought in using rail lines.  The prison had its own station.  A building that had been used by the Nazis as a canteen for workers was converted into a prison building.  Materials were used from the old brick factory and ruined buildings to build the rest of the prison.  Some buildings eg telecommunications centre, were used by the Soviet secret police. Thus, not just a prison!

Revision checklist: 1. Give THREE reasons why Hohenschonhausen was a good site for a factory: a) b) c) 2. Who set up a factory at this site in 1910? 3. What does the term Soviet Union mean? 4. Why did the Soviet Union have control of this part of Berlin in 1945? 5. Give THREE reasons why this was a good location for the Soviets to set up a prison in 1945 a) b) c) 6. Who physically built the Soviet prison? 7. What physical evidence still exists from the old factory?

The ways in which the site has changed over time: the development of the Soviet Prison

Soviet prison 1945-51: use of a central block with cells. The Soviet authorities developed the old Nazi canteen building into a prison. The basement was used to detain prisoners. It was referred to by prisoners as the “U Boot” (submarine). Prisoners were held in a series of cells, some for individuals; others for groups. Some cells were used for physical torture.

The prison became part of a restricted zone, off limits to members of the general public. The zone contained offices of the Soviet secret police and housed those who worked in the force. The Soviet prison can be studied using physical evidence.

What are the difficulties in studying the physical appearance of the site when it was first used as a prison? Key difficulties: • Unclear what was there when first used. • Site has been added to. • Some sections have been destroyed. • Exact use of features is often unclear • Photos and records often destroyed in the War. • The site was supposed to be secret! Possible solutions: • Use of photos. These are available for the outer fence only. • Use of maps and plans. Plans were sketched by inmates. • Use of written accounts and official records. - eg. We have accounts by Berta Drews whose husband was held in the prison. - Report of the loyal mayor’s office complaining about building of the prison.

What is the physical evidence for the Soviet camp? • The Soviet prison re-used some buildings, such as the Nazi canteen for workers. • It also made use of many old bricks from the brickworks. • The central block with cells in the basement. The basement is known as the “U Boot” (submarine).

The evidence tell us about the way the Soviet prison worked: • Use of cells to hold prisoners • Deprived conditions (Lack of windows, lack of toilets, size of cells, wooden beds which were always too small) • Use of light deprivation( lights controlled by guards) • Use of disorientation (constant lighting) • Use of physical torture (water torture cells)

The physical evidence is useful because:  It shows the size of the cells and gives us a good idea of what conditions were like. BUT  It does not confirm exact details of how the cells were used.  Torture methods are not confirmed by the evidence.  Useful to have oral accounts by prisoners and guards to confirm torture, but these tend to give very different views.

The development of the site under the Stasi (East German secret police)

In 1951 the prison and restricted area were given over to the government of East Germany (DDR). • East Germany was the communist country formed in the old Soviet zone. • The Red Army handed the prison over to the Stasi (the secret police of the DDR). • The prison was expanded. Lots of new buildings were built.

The central block was surrounded by new buildings. Rooms have windows but glass is frosted. Lets in light but prisoners have no idea where they are. Lots of windows = lots of rooms. There were more interrogation rooms than cells! Bars on windows. To prevent escape. Lovely flower bed & landscaping. Outside gave no idea of what went on inside. This was to give a good impression to visitors. The prison was expanded with: • new cell blocks • interrogation rooms • addition of garage facilities • Building of perimeter fences, watchtowers and walls The garage:  No windows, just bright lights to disorientate prisoners.  Use of disguised vans. These were used to arrest people. Holding cells:  Small spaces but better than “U Boot” (had windows, heating)

Corridor:  Used light system to warn guards  Wires used so that alarms could be triggered.

Cells:  Doors had spy holes for guards, hatches to give food to prisoners.  Toilet  Bed  Sink  Heating  Seat

Rooms for medicals:  Showed prisoners were looked after (a bit!) the government did not want a prisoner to die in prison.  BUT rooms may have been used to give lethal doses of radiation to prisoners. They died several years later of cancer!

Interrogation rooms:  Phone  Alarm intercom  seats, - prisoner sat in a chair in a corner.  Light could be used to intimidate.  Photo of Honecker (leader of DDR)  Ashtray (usually), to reward talkative prisoners with a cigarette  Cupboard with tape recorder. This tells us the interrogators were also spied on! The “Tiger Cage” 8

 Used to exercise prisoners Perimeter. How was the prison protected?  Wall  Watchtowers  Barbed wire

The development of the Prohibited District Why did the Stasi prison expand so much between 1951 and 1989? Reason for expansion: many East Germans hated their own government. Why?  Lack of freedom  One-party state under the Communist Party  Poor economy – little money

Key developments: 1951 the prison handed over to the DDR 1953 the June Uprising This was by workers unhappy that the government had cut wages and increased prices.

1961 the Berlin Wall was built to stop people leaving East Germany. Millions had!

1989 wave of protests against the government because of lack of freedom. Why were people sent to the prison at Hohenschonhausen? • Trying to flee the country • Criticising the government/ communism • Listening to Western music eg. Rock and roll, punk They were sent there for political crimes. • The Stasi prison was a remand prison. • Prisoners were sent here to be interrogated or whilst waiting to be put on trial. • They would then be released or, if found guilty, sent to a criminal prison.

The Prohibited District was also expanded after 1953: • construction of buildings for Stasi statistics dept • Stasi archives • Criminal Investigations Dept • housing blocks for Stasi employees • building to house OTS dept. (made spy gadgets)

• The Soviet prison is shown shaded.

1 Central remand prison 2 Prison hospital 3 Workshop courtyard 4. Criminal Investigations unit 5. Garage 6-9 the factory 14. OTS 15. Data office

The Prohibited District. Note its expansion after 1951 when the DDR took over the old Soviet prison 10

Revision checklist:

1. In what building was the central block of the Soviet prison located? 2. What was the “U Boat”? 3. Give FOUR features of a typical cell in the Soviet prison: a) b) c) d) 4. Give TWO reasons why the Soviet Union needed a prison in 1945: a) b) 5. Why is the use of physical torture at the Soviet prison a controversial issue? 6. What was the Stasi? 7. When did the Stasi gain control over the prison? 8. Give THREE differences between a cell in the Stasi prison and a cell in the Soviet prison: a) b) c) 9. What was the tiger cage? 10. List FIVE key features of the interrogation rooms: a) b) c) d) e) 11. What physical evidence is there for the expansion of the prison under the Stasi?      12. What was in the Prohibited District? 13. Why did the Prohibited District expand in the years 1951-1989?

Inmates and their accounts: How useful are accounts by those associated with the site?

What is the limitation of using physical evidence to investigate inmates’ experiences in the prison? Physical remains can suggest uses of the site BUT do not give us precise detail about how the site was used and its effect on those who were imprisoned. Accounts by inmates can help confirm how the site was used and add a personal dimension.

Examples of inmates’ accounts:

1. Jurgen Fuchs Arrested for opposition to the Communist Party. Wrote a book, “Interrogation Record” about his experiences.

2. Gerulf Pannach Arrested because he wrote songs that criticised the government.

3. Ulrike Poppe Arrested for leading protests for freedom and criticising the government.

Fuchs thought that he was given lethal doses of radiation during medicals at the prison so he would die of cancer. The physical remains at the site do NOT prove this but Pannach also thought this had happened to him. Both men died young from cancer-related diseases, suggesting that they may be correct in their view.

Other inmates’ accounts detail the methods used against them and how harsh these were. The Stasi may not have used physical torture but their accounts tell us how damaging psychological torture could be.

Problems of using inmates’ accounts:

 Former guards have criticised the accounts by inmates as over-dramatic and untrue. They think the inmates are trying to show how bad the Stasi was to discredit Communism.

 Some inmates may want revenge against former guards.

 It is difficult to know how typical accounts are. Some guards may have been cruel. This does not prove all or even most were.

 The accounts of the use of water torture in the Soviet prison are controversial. Former guards say this did not happen.

 After the communist government collapsed in 1990, the press (particularly newspapers) tried to show communism in a bad light.

Thus, whilst inmates’ accounts are useful, they need to be treated with caution.

From prison to museum

The reasons for the closure of the prison In 1985 the Soviet Union had a new leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. His actions led to the end of East Germany as a Communist country.

What did Gorbachev do?

1. He said that the USSR would no longer support unpopular governments in Eastern Europe. He would not send the Red Army in! 2. He promoted greater freedom. Popular protests started that called for democracy.

• There were mass protests in East Germany • The government lost control. • In the confusion the Berlin Wall was opened. • In 1990, free elections were held. • The Communists lost. • The East Germans then voted to join the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). • The Communist state of East Germany was abolished.

Germany was reunited

What happened to the prison? The prisoners were released. It was closed in 1990. In 1992 it became a museum. In 1995 it also became a memorial.

What facilities were added for the memorial museum?

Facility Purpose Bookshop To provide information about the site. To provide resources for visitors who want to find out more. To provide resources for those who wish to study the site. (Resources available in several languages)

Café For the comfort of visitors. To encourage visitors to stay and reflect.

Toilets For the comfort of visitors.

Educational room For lectures. For group study. A space to avoid disturbing other visitors to the site.

Exhibition rooms To exhibit artefacts, pictures and other material linked to the site.

Tour guides The tour guides are often former inmates. They give the site a personal dimension. Guides help visitors make sense of the site and how the buildings were used.

Memorial To help victims of the prison and their families remember come to terms with their experiences. A focal point for remembrance.

Other changes to the physical remains since 1990:  Demolition of structures in the Prohibited District since 1990.

Not all people have been happy with the site being used as a memorial to victims. Former guards still live in the housing blocks that surround the site!

Change through time: turning points in the history of the site

The site has changed a lot through time. Some of these changes have been more important than others. A turning point is when the change is important because it leads to the site developing in a different way.

Criteria for judging turning point could be:  Change in purpose  Change in how this purpose was carried out  Change in who used it  Change in scale (size)  Change in physical remains (its buildings)

Key dates Nature of change Ways in which it might be considered a turning point. 1910 Industrial factory set up at Change in purpose from farmland to industry. the site by Heike. Factories built. 1945 Allied air raid destroyed Destruction of many buildings = change in appearance of site. many of the industrial Big change in purpose from factory to prison BUT the Nazis had used buildings. the factories here for forced labour during the Second World War Soviet authorities set up (some continuity). Prison needed to deal with political enemies. prison at the site Change in ownership: now in the control of a government. 1951 The prison was handed No change in purpose: still a prison BUT expansion of function. over to the East German Becomes a prison ”factory”. Still dealing with political prisoners BUT government and run by the political crimes are slightly different (eg trying to escape country) Stasi Change in ownership (from Soviet government to East German government) but still controlled by a government and run by its secret police (Soviet NKVD to East German Stasi) Change in terms of expansion of the site greatest in late 1950s-1960s: buildings added; Prohibited District developed. Change in methods used in prison: Soviets used physical torture, Stasi used psychological torture. 1990 Prison closed when Complete change in purpose as site was left unused. Germany reunited. Change in release of prisoners. Change in ownership: now owned by Berlin city council. Change in physical remains: demolition of some buildings (including Heike’s factory building) and watchtowers in the Prohibited District. 1992 Prison opened as a Change in purpose: educational. museum. Change in buildings: museum facilities added to the site. Reconstructions of some cells added.

1995 A memorial was Additional change in purpose: addition of memorial. established at the Change in physical structure: Memorial stone added. museum.

Which is the most important turning point? The answer to this depends on the criteria you use. In terms of purpose the key turning points would be 1910, 1945, 1990, but other dates do see smaller changes. In terms of how the site was used as a prison, then 1951 marks the change from physical to psychological torture, an important change in terms of impact on prisoners. In terms of scale and size of site then the 1950s and 1960s see the biggest change as the site is expanded and the Prohibited District is established. In terms of ownership, 1945 sees change from private ownership to government control BUT the Nazis had gradually gained control over aspects of the site during the Second World War.

People associated with the site

Many people are linked to the site and their role has depended on their activities and position:

Richard Heike Set up first industry at the site in 1910. Rented his facilities to the Nazis during Second World War. Shot by Soviet soldiers at the prison 1945.

Colonel General Ivan Serow The chief officer responsible for the use of the secret police in the Soviet zone of occupation was Colonel General Ivan Serow. Rounded up political enemies as the Red Army marched into Berlin at the end of the Second World War He made the decision to set up a restricted area with a special camp to hold political prisoners at Hohenschonhausen.

Alexei Sidnew Head of the Soviet authorities’ Operative Department in Berlin, which was part of the secret police. He ordered the construction of a prison labour camp in 1945. He used the Heike factory and organised the looting of materials to repair buildings and build prison. Heinrich George Heinrich George was considered one of Germany's leading stage figures during the Nazi period. He was held at the Soviet prison for working with the Nazis. At Hohenschönhausen, he initially worked in the kitchens and repair yard before working in the prison’s theatre. Despite his imprisonment, he managed to send a series of heart- wrenching secret messages to his wife, Berta Drews, detailing both the dreadful conditions in the prison and the intensity of his despair. Important for raising awareness of conditions for inmates during Soviet period.

Alfred Weiland Held in the Soviet prison for criticising communism after being kidnapped in West Berlin. His case got lots of publicity in the West. Interrogated and tortured at the prison. Weiland had a lot of political friends in the West who campaigned for his release. His case raised awareness of what went on in the prison. Continued to campaign for inmates after his release.

Erich Mielke German communist official who served as head of the East German Ministry of State Security, better known as the Stasi, from 1957 until shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Overall responsibility for the Stasi and its prisons lay with him.

The Stasi under Mielke grew considerably and Mielke was keen to expand the Stasi as it added to his own personal power.

After German reunification, Mielke was arrested and sentenced for the murders of 1931. He was the last inmate in the prison at Hohenschonhausen.

Dr Hubertus Knabe From 1992 to 2000, he worked in the research department of the Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records.

In 2001, he was appointed scientific director of the Berlin- Hohenschönhausen Memorial.

Leading campaigner for setting up museum-memorial.

Hubertus Knabe is committed to a consistent work on coming to terms with the Communist crimes committed on German soil.

Marita (one of many tour Personal experiences help bring site to life for visitors. guides) Enables visitors to appreciate the impact the prison had and still has.

IMPORTANCE of individuals depends on the role you are looking at:  Heike important in establishing use of site for industry.  Serow responsible for brutal actions at the site under the Soviets, but Sidnew was responsible for building the prison.  Mielke was responsible for expansion of the prison and turning into an “empire”. Also responsible for the actions that took place there (but you could also consider responsibility of the guards). Meilke also important as the prison’s last inmate.  Knabe important for establishing museum and memorial – a key change in the purpose of the site.  Tour guides important in promoting understanding of the site and its educational potential.

What the site reveals about everyday life, attitudes and values in particular periods of history

Period Values and attitudes How do the physical remains reflect the values and attitudes of those who have used the site?

1910-45 • Industrialisation  Factories and industry (evidence from maps) • Urbanisation  Hieke’s site expanded as he rented to other • Entrepreneurialism industrialists (entrepreneur).  Some of factories remain, as does the Nazi canteen for workers building. 1945-51 • Authoritarianism  The “U Boot” (submarine” with its torture cells • Dictatorship (One represents the authoritarian dictatorship/ brutality/ Party State) stress on conformity and control. • Brutality  Date of Soviet prison links to the development of the • Conformity Cold War (political opponents held at the prison). • Control  Perimeter fence and watchtowers indicate control. • Cold War conflict

Camp used to assert Soviet authority over its zone of occupation in Germany. Used as part of the fight against fascist elements .

1951-90 • Authoritarianism  Expansion of cells with garage, holding cells, corridor, • Dictatorship (One interrogation rooms, “tiger cages”, perimeter wall all Party State) show nature of a dictatorship that demanded • Conformity conformity from its people. Expansion shows paranoia • Control of the East German government during Cold War • Paranoia (always looking for enemies). • Cold War conflict

Reflects paranoia of DDR regime, an artificial creation of the Cold War that resulted from the imposition of communism on the Soviet sector of Germany.

Expansion of site in 1950s reflected insecurity of the regime prompted by the 1953 Workers’ Uprising.

Use of the prison as part of the apparatus used to discourage citizens fleeing the country after the Berlin Wall was constructed in 1961.

Use of political prisoners as part of the process for gaining foreign exchange from West Germany.

Use of the prison to deal with those spreading western influences in the 1970s and 1980s reflecting regime’s concern with western fashion and music and its impact on youth.

1990-92 • Democracy  End of prison reflects introduction of democracy into • Embarrassment East Germany with reunification.  Closure of prison and demolition of associated buildings in the Prohibited District reflects embarrassment with Communist methods. 1992 to present • Remembrance  Memorial reflects need to remember victims of • Democracy Communism. • Reconciliation  Opening as a museum with bookshop, café, lecture rooms reflects desire to come to terms with the past German attitudes after and bring about reconciliation of victims with former reunification: Used to heal Communists. Awareness helps reconciliation. divisions, reflect on the past, commemorate victims of dictatorship. Associated with denigration of communism after 1989.

Attitudes also linked with debate over “Ostalgie” (the longing for a return of East Germany) and need to represent all aspects of life in the DDR, both positive and negative.

Thus, the site reflects values and attitudes well BUT it is less useful as evidence of everyday life. We can use the prison to suggest that people had to do what they were told in all aspects of life, but many people lived in East Germany without being intimidated. Nonetheless, their freedom was limited (the Berlin Wall is a good example!)

Everyday life at the site: The site was used for activities that do you necessarily reflect everyday life. Everyday life at the site can be seen through the activities of inmates and guards. These are well-represented by the physical remains, although accounts by inmates and guards are needed to get a full picture. Everyday life at the site was:  Repetitive and boring for the guards  Repetitive and harsh for inmates  Since it was turned into a museum everyday activity consists of the activities of tour guides and their visitors.

How typical is the site at Hohenschonhausen?

It is useful to think about whether the site can be seen as  Unique (does it have features that no other site has?)  Typical (is it a standard example of a site of its sort with all the features you would expect?)  Symbolic (does it symbolise the society that created and used it?)  Representative (does it represent values and attitudes of the people who created/used it?)

Is Hohenschonhausen typical?

1. As an early C20th industrial site

 Hardly unique.  One of many industrial areas of Berlin from this period.  Much of it destroyed in bombing in 2nd WW.  Fairly typical of Berlin. 2. As a Soviet prison  One of about 10 camps/prisons for political prisoners.  Most of these were old Nazi concentration camps.  Hohenschonhausen unique in that it was rebuilt and adapted to be a Soviet prison.  Torture methods used are more developed than at other sites.

3. As a Stasi prison  One of 17 remand prisons in the DDR.  It was the central remand prison.  The biggest (200 cells & interrogation rooms)  Its medical facilities used by prisoners in other prisons.  Prohibited District was largest centre for the Stasi.

Other Stasi remand prisons: a) Rostock Remand prison Similarities:  Same design with holding cells and interrogation rooms.  Also has “tiger cages”  Built later (late 1950s)  Served smaller area (City of Rostock)  Closed with reunification  Also has a memorial

Differences:  Smaller in size and number of prisoners held (less than 5,000 compared with 25,000 at Hohenschonhausen)  Only 50 cells

b) Bautzen prison Similarities:  Served as a Soviet prison before the DDR took control over it  Many died in the Soviet prison  Bautzen II was a remand prison  Has watchtowers  Also a memorial site

Differences:  Bautzen I was a criminal prison 19

 Did not have interrogation rooms in Bautzen I  Exercise yards rather than “tiger cages”

4. As a museum/memorial for the DDR

 The Stasi headquarters building in East Berlin is also a museum.  Rostock prison has a memorial to victims.  So does Bautzen

Other sites for the Stasi: Stasi headquarters in East Berlin. These were the offices with Erich Meilke’s (Head of the Stasi) offices. It is open to the public as a museum. It contains examples of Stasi spying equipment. It was never a prison.

THUS, Hohenschonhausen was the biggest remand prison but its features were fairly typical.

The importance of the whole site locally and nationally

The site is funded by the Berlin city council and has received many important visitors, such as Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, as well as the leaders of other countries. Clearly it is seen as an important site. Why?

 The main Soviet camp for Berlin, 1945-51.  The remand prison of the DDR from 1951-1990.  A base for the Stasi and many of its key depts. from 1951-1990.  A key site illustrating the dictatorship of the DDR.  As a memorial site to the victims of communist dictatorship.

Other key facts: As a Soviet prison: • About 25,000 held here. • 886 deaths recorded by Soviet authorities. • It was probably many more (3,000?).

As a Stasi prison • Over 22,000 held here. • Deaths unknown. • It was the central remand prison. • The biggest remand prison • Prohibited District was largest centre for the Stasi.

As a museum/memorial • Local school children look after the memorial. • A memorial service is held every year. • Use of guides that are personally linked to the events they commemorate.

Which specific features in the physical remains are of significance?

Feature Significance The “submarine” block Remains of the Soviet prison. Unusual because most Soviet prisons were in former Nazi concentration camps. The cells in the “submarine”: padded cell, water-torture Evidence of physical torture used by Soviet authorities cell, door cell.

The garage facilities. Evidence of arrest methods and organisation that went into process of detention. The prison cells in the main prison block and their Evidence of methods of grinding prisoners down. facilities (or lack of them)

The interrogation rooms and their use of seating and Evidence of methods used by Stasi and their paranoia. furniture. Surveillance technology installed in rooms. The “tiger cages”. Evidence that even physical exercise was restricted but does show some improvement in treatment of prisoners. The memorial Important as a site for remembering victims of dictatorship. Especially important because many victims are still alive. Important as part of the education of people about what went on at the site.

As the biggest Stasi prison, serving the capital city of Berlin, it is worth preserving so that what went on here is not forgotten.

Revision checklist: 1. Give TWO reasons why the use of inmates’ accounts is useful to the historian of the prison: a) b) 2. Name ONE example of an inmate’s account. 3. When was the prison closed? 4. Why was the prison closed? 5. When was the prison re-opened as a museum? 6. Why was a memorial added in 1995? 7. State THREE facilities added to the prison when it became a museum: a) b) c) 8. How are the following people linked to the site? a) Richard Heike b) Ivan Serow c) Alexei Sidnew d) Erich Mielke e) Dr Hubertus Knabe 9. What physical evidence could you use as evidence of the following values? a) Conformity b) Paranoia c) Industrialisation d) Freedom e) Brutality f) Reconciliation

Representations and artistic reconstructions of the site

ARTISTIC REPRESENTATIONS What instructions would you give an artist drawing a picture of the site?

 Need to consider date you are reconstructing. Would it be best to draw the site as it is now or as it was when in use as a prison?  Need to refer to other sources especially photographs, inmates’ accounts, maps  Need to note the materials used and how these show different periods of use eg brickwork in the old Soviet prison is different to new blocks added by the Stasi.  Use of frosted glass blocks for windows to prevent prisoners seeing outside.  Important to show relationship between buildings in terms of their location.  Need to show watchtowers to indicate it was impossible to leave  Materials such as concrete blocks used for perimeter wall  Use of Plattenbau method for building (prefabricated blocks of wall)  Might want to put a Barkas van in the picture to show how prisoners arrived.  Might wish to use cut away method to show inside of building  Drawings of cells would need to show small details like lights, door with hatch and spy hole, basic furniture  Drawings of Soviet “U Boot” cells might be controversial due to reconstructions of torture methods (water cells, padded cells)  Important to indicate size of features to show cells had limited space  Important to get the colours right (mostly grey)  Important to get inside decoration correct (there were very few wallpaper designs in East Germany and people who lived at the time know these well) Key issues:  Accuracy important  Need to give an impression eg of harshness, gloom (but this might affect accuracy of the representation)  How much notice should be taken of inmates’ accounts than are not proved by physical evidence (eg water cells)?

MODELS These can be particularly useful:  Help show location  Help with relative position of buildings and how they are linked eg use of a central courtyard so that prisoners never see outside world.  Can show materials, key features  Can use cut away method to show inside building

FILM The Stasi prison has been used in films such as “The Lives of Others”. Advantages:  Gives an impression that can highlight atmosphere inside the prison  Can highlight how the prison operated

Disadvantages:  Can over-exaggerate the impression for effect eg to make the prison seem bad or claustrophobia.  Cannot include everything as its focus will be limited depending on the topic of the film.

What instructions would you give a film maker who is producing a short documentary of the site?

 Need to consider development of the site through time

 Need to refer to other sources especially photographs, inmates’ accounts, maps  Need to note the materials used and how these show different periods of use eg brickwork in the old Soviet prison is different to new blocks added by the Stasi.  Use of frosted glass blocks for windows to prevent prisoners seeing outside.  Important to show relationship between buildings in terms of their location.  Need to show watchtowers to indicate it was impossible to leave  Need to show procedure for prisoners from arrival to interrogation  Need to draw attention to key features - eg small details like lights, door with hatch and spy hole, basic furniture - Soviet “U Boot” cells might be controversial due to reconstructions of torture methods (water cells, padded cells) and this should be highlighted - Tiger cages  Important to indicate size of features to show cells had limited space  Important to get the colours right (mostly grey) rather than using lighting effects Key issues:  Accuracy important  Need to give an impression eg of harshness, gloom (but this might affect accuracy of the representation)  How much notice should be taken of inmates’ accounts than are not proved by physical evidence (eg water cells)?

The challenges and benefits of studying the historic environment

Benefits:  Gives a sense of place and cultural identity  It links people to a place that helps define the people who live there  It helps promote a regional or local distinctiveness  Stimulating way to engage with history  Importance in the process of remembrance

Challenges:  Difficult to interpret due to lack of sources and evidence  Evidence often destroyed  Different interpretations often based on emotional responses  Controversy over level of detachment possible when studying recent history

Hohenschonhausen poses particular challenges:

1. Controversy over use of torture cells in the Soviet prison.

 Inmates say this happened.  No written evidence for this  Guards say it did not happen  Cells have been reconstructed to show torture but is this true?

A more positive view of the Soviet army in Berlin is highlighted by Treptower Park

2. As a prison museum

 Stasi destroyed a lot of records for the prison in 1989-90  Former guards still live in houses next to the prison. This makes it difficult for guides.  Many who lived in East Germany think the prison gives a misleading view of life in the DDR.

For a view of everyday life in East Germany the DDR museum is better (more representative of good and bad) 23

Conclusion: Challenges might make the site hard to please everybody but it does promote debate and reflection on the past and these can only be important benefits. Remembering can prevent dreadful events happening again.

How the physical remains may prompt questions about the past and how historians frame these as valid historical enquiries

Question Answer Who built it? Who changed it? Who used it?  Richard Heike (industrialist) built factories on the site.  By end of Second World War it was an industrial site using a lot of forced labour.  Soviet authorities used it as a prison.  DDR used it as a remand prison.  Since reunification, used as a museum- memorial by the German government. What is it? What changes has it seen? What was it used It has been: for?  An industrial site  a prison  a museum-memorial When was it built? When was it changed? When was it 1910: Turned into an industrial site used? 1945: Soviet prison 1951: Stasi prison 1990: closed down 1992: museum 1995: museum-memorial Why was it built? Why was it changed? Why was it Good location for industry: near to Berlin, workers, used? transport links Good location for Soviet prison: near city centre, in the Soviet zone, site available due to bombing Expanded prison due to 1953 Workers Uprising; people wanting to leave communist East Germany after Berlin Wall built in 1961. Closed when DDR collapsed in 1990 Need for a memorial to victims of communism after German reunited. How was it built? How was it changed? How was it Factories built using workers and bricks. used? How much did it cost to build/change? Soviet prison built using materials collected from bomb- damaged buildings in 1945 Stasi prison expanded using Plattenbau materials. Memorial erected by the German government, specially designed. Costs unknown but each group that built it thought it was worth the cost! Where was it built? Where was it changed? Where did East Berlin is the location. the people come from who used it? Stasi prison saw additions to central block. Area around the prison became a Prohibited District. Inmates came from all over the country. Today visitors come from all over the world. 24

What other evidence could the historian use to study the site at Hohenschonhausen?

Uses Limitations Type of evidence Maps  Maps useful for showing location and  Maps give no definite reasons for it. information about what  Maps can be compared to see change goes on INSIDE the through time. Maps of Berlin show rapid buildings. growth during C19th (time of the industrial  Does not tell us about revolution) conditions in the area eg  Although DDR maps of the area are blank workers lives. they suggest secretive nature of the  DDR (East Germany) maps activities in the area. show only a blank area. Photographs  Photos can be used to fill out information  Photos of the prison and from the maps to get a three dimensional Prohibited District are rare picture. due to secret nature of the  Photos often only evidence of what the site area. looked like before it was bombed in the Second World War. Accounts by Inmates’ accounts give us precise detail about how  Former guards have inmates/guards the site was used and its effect on those who were criticised the accounts by imprisoned. inmates as over-dramatic Accounts by inmates can help confirm how the site and untrue. They think the was used and add a personal dimension. Some inmates are trying to show Soviet prison inmates report use of torture. how bad the Stasi was to discredit Communism. Examples of inmates’ accounts:  Some inmates may want Jurgen Fuchs Arrested for opposition to the revenge against former Communist Party. Wrote a book, “Interrogation guards. Record” about his experiences.  It is difficult to know how Gerulf Pannach Arrested because he wrote songs typical accounts are. Some that criticised the government. guards may have been cruel. This does not prove Ulrike Poppe Arrested for leading protests for all or even most were. freedom and criticising the government.  The accounts of the use of Fuchs thought that he was given lethal doses of water torture in the Soviet radiation during medicals at the prison so he would prison are controversial. die of cancer. The physical remains at the site do Former guards say this did NOT prove this but Pannach also thought this had not happen. happened to him. Both men died young from cancer-related diseases, suggesting that they may  After the communist be correct in their view. government collapsed in 1990, the press (particularly Other inmates’ accounts detail the methods used newspapers) tried to show against them and how harsh these were. The Stasi communism in a bad light. may not have used physical torture but their accounts tell us how damaging psychological torture could be.

Newspapers  Early C20th newspapers carried advertising  Not reported by Communist for industries at the site. These confirm authorities. goods that they made.  Newspaper reports after  Newspaper accounts after reunification can reunification often very be useful eg for the trial of Meilke. negative towards the Stasi and the way they used the site.

Official  There are some records held in the local  Many official records reports/records mayor’s office in Hohenschonhausen that destroyed by bombing. reveal local people were unhappy with the  Soviet authorities removed use of the site as a Soviet prison. their records when they  Records of the museum indicate left. importance of using the site as a memorial.  Stasi destroyed their own records before reunification.

The Soviet Prison Revision exercise: Label the following pictures with the key features of the physical evidence.

The Stasi Prison

Holding cell 29

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 1. Did the purpose of your site change dramatically over its history? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

2. How typical is your site? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

3. What do we know about when and why your site was first created? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

4. What activities have been undertaken at your site? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

5. How have individual people had an impact on the development and use of your site? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

6. Why has your site changed over its history? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

7. How important is your site, both locally and nationally? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

8. What does your site reveal about the values and attitudes of the society that has used it? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

9. How useful are physical remains for revealing everyday life at your site? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

10. Imagine you are training tour guides at your site. What features would you want them to show visitors and why? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

11. Do the benefits outweigh the challenges of studying your site? Use physical features of the site and other sources as well as your knowledge to support your answer. [20]

Revision exercise:

1. Highlight the key focus words in each question. 2. Plan answers to each question. Remember the examiner will be looking for three elements: a) Reference to the physical evidence b) An understanding of the context of this evidence (what was going on that produced this evidence?) c) Explanation linked to the focus of the question.

Try to address all three elements in your plan for each question.