Waldheim Prison

Waldheim Prison is a 307-year-old federal prison in Saxony, Germany.

Waldheim Prison
Southeast view in June 2011
LocationSaxony, Germany
OpenedApril 3, 1716 (1716-04-03)

Use

As of April 2016, the Waldheim penal institution held 373 men (aged 21–80) out of a capacity of almost 400. The Saxon Minister of Justice, Sebastian Gemkow, described the focus as "humane enforcement".[1]

History

Originally an old castle, the Waldheim penitentiary opened on 3 April 1716.[2] Founded by Augustus II the Strong, elector of Saxony, the prison was initially focused on welfare and rehabilitation and housed beggars, highwaymen, and criminals (with the latter only accounting for 20% of inmates). A model for other such institutions, by the turn of the 19th century, envoys traveled from other European states to see the prison. After being stripped of its welfare roles in 1830, the prison became notorious for the atrocious treatment of inmates. In 1870, Waldheim was the first prison to install a mental ward.[1]

Waldheim was used to hold political prisoners: before World War II, for the Nazi Party, and the East German state. Some famous prisoners included Karl May, August Röckel, and Horst Sindermann. The 1950 Waldheim Trials imprisoned thousands of Nazi suspects and executed 24. In April 2016, a ceremony was held to celebrate the building's 300th anniversary, the oldest German prison still in use.[1]

References
  1. "Festakt für Deutschlands ältestes Gefängnis" [Ceremony for Germany's oldest prison] (in German). Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. 3 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  2. Lasch, Hendrik (2 April 2016). "300 Jahre hinter Gittern" [300 years behind bars] (in German). Neues Deutschland. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022. Germany's oldest continuously used prison is located in Waldheim, Saxony
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