The last item that I had on my list of places I wanted to see while in Bautzen was Bautzen II. This was a 20th-century political prison, which was in operation during the Communist period in East Germany. It was the only East German prison that was directly in control of the Stasi. It is named
Bautzen II because there are actually two prisons in Bautzen. The other one, Bautzen I, which is found north of the city centre, is still a functioning prison and correctional facility. Bautzen II on the other hand has been transformed to a memorial and museum, where visitors can tour the premises free of charge.
The first thing that visitors see are cabinets of memorabilia: old cell keys, uniforms of guards, identity documents, among others. The museum highlights several prisoners, detailing their plight, why they have been imprisoned, and where they are now, if they are still around. These stories are to be found all throughout the building.
As I went through the building, I came across massive metal cages, and staircases that were surrounded by metal bars. It is definitely not the most welcoming place to be. I saw the cells, and seeing how they are furnished, it's definitely not how I would want to spend my days. Thankfully I have the freedom I have right now, since being a prisoner in a place like that is definitely not something I would want.
Finally, I checked out the yard. It was a bizarre yard. There's actually a large open space, yet they are partitioned by several walls, so that even if a prisoner tries to get outside, they would basically climb up a series of walls before being able to finally escape. It is a deterring tactic, obviously, and instead of a human, I felt like a mouse.
In any case, my visit was very educational, and I left feeling grateful that I don't live in such environments and that the current political situation isn't something that supports such institutions. Hopefully, it stays that way. As I slowly headed out and back to the train station, I was glad that I could actually go where I wanted to go.
