Shocking acts of violence: murder and bankruptcies shake Beelitz!

Shocking acts of violence: murder and bankruptcies shake Beelitz!

At the end of 2025, the Potsdam-Mittelmark region is looking back on an eventful year in which not only the history of a remarkable place, but also tragic acts of violence and economic challenges were at the forefront. They were particularly in focus Beelitz sanatoriums, a former military hospital complex with a checkered past.

At the beginning of the year, two acts of violence in the Beelitz sanatorium made national headlines. A 23-year-old has been charged with murder after he slit a man's throat with a knife. This was not his only offense; just a few days later, he tried again to injure another person with a knife. The Potsdam Regional Court decided that the defendant did not act culpably due to a mental disorder and committed him to a psychiatric hospital. Such incidents cast a shadow on the historic walls, which have housed many famous patients, including Adolf Hitler and Erich Honecker, and which are now a place of decay and remembrance, such as abandonedberlin.com describes.

The fascinating history of the Beelitz sanatoriums

The Beelitz sanatoriums were built between 1898 and 1930 and were originally designed as a tuberculosis sanatorium. Over the course of its history, the facility was transformed several times, including serving as a military hospital during the First and Second World Wars and until 1994 it was the largest Soviet military hospital outside the USSR. Its architecture and the remains of the many treatments make the complex a tourist attraction today, even if the decay is visible in many places. The first renovations took place between 2001 and 2015, and there are plans for future use of the area, which will also include new living quarters and medical facilities.

The year was less positive for some residents of the region. The economic situation showed its dark sides, for example the Tannenhof in Werder (Havel) filed for insolvency in August 2025 to restructure its operations. At the same time, the reactivation of the main line was planned in Kleinmachnow - a connection that once closely linked Potsdam and Berlin. This shows that despite the challenges that have made life difficult for some businesses and residents, there are also hopes and plans for the future in the region.

A look at the community

Somewhere between the losses there are also touching stories. Renate and Henning Schran, who live in Rehbrücke, have been married for 63 years. Even though Henning suffers from dementia, the love between the two remains strong. Stories like these give hope and show that the community sticks together.

In addition, there were also requests for justice in 2025 - for example in the case of pensioner Herbert Wittke, who sits in a wheelchair and was supposed to work hours, which triggered a debate about the respectful treatment of disabled people.

Numerous animals were also confiscated by the veterinary office in Glindow because they were malnourished and sick. 80 animals, including 42 dogs, were captured, highlighting the importance of animal welfare in the region.

All in all, 2025 was a year full of challenges, tragedies and also beautiful moments. The Beelitz Sanctuaries remain a fascinating, if tragic, symbol of the region's past and current efforts to grow together as a community and look forward.