Zwickau prison

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The Zwickau prison was a prison founded in the 18th century .

history

Ruins of Osterstein Castle

The breeding and workhouse Zwickau was the Oberkonsistorial President Baron Peter von Hohenthal equipped with 14 prisoners on 15 September 1775 in Castle Osterstein opened (including the granary ) after the 7346 dollars for remodeling the castle using lotteries were procured . The first "caretaker" (director from 1833) was Johann Gottlob Kölz , who had previously managed the Luckau prison. At first the penitentiary was subordinate to the “ Churfürstl.Commission for the procurement of the general poor and orphanages, also breeding and workhouses in Waldheim, Torgau, Zwickau ”. In 1787 the area was extended by a garden on Biergasse and later by a section of the city moat. The western connecting wing was built between 1804 and 1812 and housed around 100 prisoners. In 1817 the nursery was expanded to include the Bley garden. In 1820 a separate Catholic chapel was consecrated and in 1887 it was replaced by the Catholic church that still stands there today. Outside of the institution, the chaplain, the institution doctor and the foreman lived in buildings built in 1822 and 1824. In February 1829 the Zwickau institution was dissolved as a penitentiary and most of the inmates were transferred to the Waldheim penitentiary . Instead, a state labor institute for 400 proofreaders was housed in the castle . In 1830, the ornate castle gables were replaced by unadorned ones because they were dilapidated. In 1832 the east wing of the palace was built with a mangle chamber, coal store and what would later become a wash house.

In 1836 a penitentiary was reopened and the 200 correctionists were housed in the armory (now the Kornhaus). In 1863 the east wing of the three-story cell house planned in the shape of a cross was built. The south and north wings followed a year later. The glass roof and the windows in the front sides allowed light to enter the corridors. At least 222 (maximum 364) prisoners could be accommodated in 208 single and five double cells. Political prisoners enjoyed numerous privileges until 1933. They were allowed to use their own clothes and longer use of light as well as self-employment, self-catering, more walks and reading the newspaper.

During the National Socialist era , the SA set up a wild concentration camp in Osterstein Castle , where opponents of the regime were mistreated and killed.

After 1945, the Zwickau prison was again used as a prison until December 31, 1962.

Known inmates

Web links

Coordinates: 50 ° 43 ′ 15.7 ″  N , 12 ° 30 ′ 1.3 ″  E

Individual evidence

  1. Norbert Peschke: In 1775 the castle became a penal institution . In: Free Press . December 5, 2018, p. 10 ( online ).