Commemoration in Weesow: 80 years after the dissolution of the special camp

Commemoration in Weesow: 80 years after the dissolution of the special camp

On September 6, 2025, a memorial ceremony was held in Weesow to mark the 80th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet special camp No. 7. Around 80 years after these drastic events, citizens gathered to commemorate the fate of those imprisoned and the survivors' cruel death march to Sachsenhausen in August 1945. The aim of the moving event was to pay respect to the victims and to send a strong message against forgetting. Barnim Current reports a dignified atmosphere characterized by quiet remembrance.

Representatives from various areas, including politics, church and administration, gave speeches that emphasized both the historical significance and the spiritual and social dimension of commemoration. Flowers were laid at the memorial stone, which underlined the sympathy and understanding for the fate of those affected. This commemoration is part of an annual tradition and aims to come to terms with the post-war history in Weesow.

The dark history of the special camp

The Soviet special camp No. 7 was in operation from 1945 to 1950 and is anything but a place of remembrance of happy times. Around 60,000 people were held captive in this camp, and more than 12,000 died due to the inhumane conditions. In August 1945, the Soviet secret service NKVD moved the camp to Sachsenhausen, but the dark past remains unforgotten. The history of the camp is documented in the museum “Soviet Special Camp No. 7/No. 1 in Sachsenhausen 1945-1950,” which opened in December 2001. Visitors can understand the terrible living conditions here and are introduced to the events through original sounds from the post-war period. The museum's website offers further information about the permanent exhibition.

The exhibition is divided into three sections, divided by color: The first section deals with the history and structure of the special camp, while the second highlights the everyday life of the prisoners and presents the prison society using 27 biographies. The third section documents the extreme prison conditions, with a central showcase dealing with the topic of “dying and death”. There are also visual axes that lead into the Zone II barracks camp and the “Am Commandant’s Court” cemetery. The exhibition ends with an examination of the public debate on special camps since the 1940s.

A place for learning and reflection

The museum houses two preserved original stone barracks, which are part of the permanent exhibition. The barracks are secured with steel plates to illustrate the isolation and extreme living conditions of the prisoners. Visitors are confronted with the living conditions that 60 people had to endure in just 100 square meters. On many walls there are quotes from prisoners that intensively reflect the horror and powerlessness. The windows and doors closed by steel plates symbolize the hopeless situation of those who were trapped in this camp.

In addition, short films provide insights into the prison experiences, including an impressive diary excerpt from Günter Sack. The museum not only shows the dark history of the place, but also makes an important contribution to the region's culture of remembrance and reappraisal. At a time when forgetting is easy, it remains essential to keep these painful memories alive and to offer the victims a dignified memorial.