Sadly most people will not want to go here. How much easier and more pleasant to just sit in a bar, oblivious to the horrors that history has wrought. However it is likely to be true that those who do not know history will be doomed to repeat it. And from that point of view it may be desirable for people to learn the lessons that places like this can teach.

The Memorial at Bautzner Street, a former Stasi prison, is an unsettling yet significant site that encapsulates a dark chapter in Germany's history. This place is a solemn testament to the past, telling a story of surveillance, persecution, and resilience during the Cold War era. Entering the prison, one is instantly transported back in time. Stark surroundings, stark in their simplicity, echo with the stories of those who once called this place an unwilling home. DDR-style devices, reminders of a surveillance culture, are strewn about, evoking a sense of cold, bureaucratic indifference. The prison offers an audio tour, an immersive experience that's only available in German. However, this isn't your usual guided tour. It's a chilling play that thrusts you, the listener, into the shoes of a prisoner during the Cold War. There is a catch: you are your modern-day self. Try and convince the guard that the wall fell all you want. "That will never happen!", he says mockingly. The narrative is profoundly graphic, designed to make the visitor not just a spectator, but a participant in a historical enactment of oppression. Beneath the already grim environment lies an even grimmer sight – the Soviet prison at the basement level. This is a harsher place, if that can be believed, where conditions were near inhumane. The contrast between the two levels of the prison serves to underline the harsh realities faced by those imprisoned here. The entry fee to this stark reminder of a bygone era is €8. It's recommended to ask for English tour directions at the counter, particularly if your grasp of the German language isn't strong. The Memorial at Bautzner Street isn't a place for light-hearted tourism. It's a place of reflection, of understanding, and of acknowledging the dark side of human history. It stands as a stark reminder of the atrocities that were committed in the name of ideologies and power. While it might not provide an uplifting visit, it offers an essential one. The memorial is an opportunity to learn, to remember, and to honour the memory of those who suffered. Visiting this site is to bear witness to history, to ensure that the stories of those who lived, suffered and, in some cases, died here, are not forgotten. The Memorial Bautzner Street Dresden isn't for the faint of heart. But for those who believe in understanding all facets of history—the good, the bad, and the unthinkable—it's an indelibly haunting and necessary experience.

They place Putin worked. STASI prison from the DDR

This is a part of history that we know little about. It's essential to take a guided tour through it to understand the full significance of the place.

Very impressive and horrifying location. The audio tours were very good, and really communicated the sense of fear and opression.

(Translated by Google) It was really interesting! 👍 (Original) War mega Interessant!👍

I visited the prison in July 2017 on a day trip to Dresden to learn about the history of the GDR and the Stasi. I received an informative welcome at the entry desk and paid only 2€ for student entry fee. You are able to explore the various buildings alone, but I joined a guided tour which was led by ex-inmate Herr. Gottschalk who was imprisoned here in the 1980s under the East German regime. Hearing the history and stories behind the building from his own experiences was incredibly interesting and we received detailed answers to all our questions. I visited the two prison blocks and the perfectly-preserved offices of the ex-Stasi headquarters in Dresden. The prison is just down the road (tram takes you direct) from The World of the GDR museum, which i also visited, which offers another experience of East Germany. They offer a combi-ticket at a reduced price to visit both the museum and the prison and student discount.

(Translated by Google) Very interesting (Original) Sehr interessant

(Translated by Google) Very emotional place, worth seeing (Original) Sehr emotionaler Ort, sehenswert

(Translated by Google) Very impressive exhibition (Original) Sehr beeindruckende Ausstellung

(Translated by Google) Depressing and thought-provoking stay there. Especially through the authentic reports from those affected. (Original) Bedrückender und nachdenklich stimmender Aufenthalt dort. Besonders durch die authentischen Berichte von Betroffenen.

👍🏻

(Translated by Google) Very sad, but also informative to deal with the past (Original) Sehr traurig,aber auch informativ,um Vergangenes zu verarbeiten

(Translated by Google) Very depressing (Original) Sehr bedrückend

(Translated by Google) On the day of the open monument we had the opportunity to take part in a guided tour by Michael Schlosser, a former prisoner. It was very moving, terrifying and so incredible. This memorial is very worth seeing so that nothing is forgotten. (Original) Zum Tag des offenen Denkmals hatten wir die Möglichkeit an einer Führung durch Michael Schlosser, einem ehemaligen Häftling, teilzunehmen. Es war sehr bewegend, erschreckend und so unglaublich. Diese Gedenkstätte ist sehr sehenswert, damit nichts vergessen wird.

(Translated by Google) I would have liked to see everyday objects there too. (Original) Hätte mir gewünscht, daß man da auch Alltagsgegenstände gezeigt bekommt.

(Translated by Google) Insider tip !!! We are in Dresden for a short break and came across the prison by chance. Really, really worth a try and at a really cheap price! Unfortunately, something is hidden, so we drove past it 3 times with the car ... The parking spaces are behind the house;) (Original) Geheimtipp!!! Wir sind für einen Kurzurlaub in Dresden und sind durch Zufall auf das Gefängnis gestoßen. Wirklich, wirklich ein Versuch wert und das zu einem wirklich günstigen Preis! Ist leider etwas versteckt, sodass wir mit dem PKW 3 Mal daran vorbei gefahren sind... Die Parkplätze liegen hinter den Haus ;)

(Translated by Google) Sad German story, highly recommended. You have to see how the regime terrorized. (Original) Traurige deutsche Geschichte, sehr empfehlenswert . Muss man sehen, wie das Regime terrorisierte.

(Translated by Google) Nice lady at the front desk. Great experience. (Original) Nette Dame am Empfang. Super Erlebnis.

(Translated by Google) A must for every Dresden citizen and tourist. Very exciting impressions and a good audio tour. Ideal for groups, but it doesn't get boring on your own either. (Original) Ein Muss für jeden Dresdner und Touristen. Sehr spannende Eindrücke und eine gute Audio-Führung. Für Gruppen optimal, jedoch wirds auch allein nicht langweilig.

(Translated by Google) A memorial with very enlightening views in the GDR era, it is best to take two days. (Original) Eine Gedenkstätte mit sehr aufschlussreichen Ansichten in der DDR-Zeit, am Besten sollte man sich zwei Tage Zeit nehmen.

(Translated by Google) Really worth seeing, had to let everything sink in first (Original) Echt sehenswert, musste das alles erstmal sacken lassen

(Translated by Google) Highly recommended for people who also want to experience this history of the GDR (Original) Sehr zu empfehlen für Leute die auch diese Geschichte der DDR erfahren wollen

(Translated by Google) I liked it very much, it was explained very well and I can only recommend it! (Original) Hat mir sehr gefallen es wurde sehr gut erklärt und man kann es nur weiterempfehlen!

The Stasi detention centre museum Bautzner Str was both much better and worse than expected. In terms of better, it allows the visitor to wander around a really high proportion of the Stasi prison than you might expect. In similar prison museums, in my experience, you don't actually get to go in the cells but in this one you do and it's big. It was worse than expected in terms of English translations of the exhibits which only cover about half the museum. There is an audioguide but not in English. It's €6 entrance, although this can be part of a combi ticket with nearby DDR Weld. There are lockers and toilets. Putin used to work in a KGB building around the corner.

For context, my friends and I speak English, but not German, as we were tourists visiting Dresden for the day. We are students, so when we saw the relatively cheap tickets, we thought why not? We read up a bit on it prior to visiting it, but it was mostly a spontaneous trip. But oh boy was it an experience! There were very minimal english descriptions (we got a paper with all the main points), but audio guides were also not available. Moreover the signs that were posted were only posted in German, thus for a tourist it might be strenuous translating required. The prison was VERY well preserved, which was amazing, but also surreal in a way! What really got me, though, was the bunker. Cold, isolated, dirty, with no English signs, I must admit it was definitely fear evoking (maybe that’s what the museum was going for?). I would rate my experience much higher, had there been more postage in English, as I feel it was really confusing. I would NOT recommend to children or people with little knowledge of Soviet/German affairs.

1 stop in the dark-tour Dresden will lead you to reveal some corner of the secret actions of Stasi and KGB

A glimpse into the past of the Russian controlled DDR. Displays are all written in deutsch but with Google lens you can easily translate. I'd recommend bringing your headphones so you can listen in English.

self-guided tour over nkwd jail and stasi offices

We really enjoyed exploring the prison. When we visited, we were the only ones there which added to the experience. There is limited English text (and no English audio guide) but we were given an English translation book for the remand prison section. Would definitely recommend visiting!

Incredibly interesting experience. Seeing the spaces in which prisoners were held, the vehicles in which they were transported, and reading about the activities they performed and the biographies of those detained, was really fascinating. Very helpful staff too, the guy took the time to explain everything and more, including Putin's connections to the building and Dresden!

An absolute must see when you're in Dresden and interested in history. Too bad all of the information is in German, and little info in English is available. Nevertheless - the whole atmosphere is very very eery and impressive, even without being able reading all information.

Very educational and important. Tours done by people who experienced the prison and the full power of the GDR. Highly recommended

Both frightening and interesting. Staff is really friendly and speaks English. I was also impressed by the ceremony hall !

(Translated by Google) Very interesting & recommendable for everyone who wants to feel German history. A good opportunity to see the inside of a prison. The insight into the underground cells was awesome. (Original) Sehr interessant & empfehlenswert für alle die, die deutsche Geschichte mal nach empfinden wollen. Eine gute Gelegenheit um mal ein Gefängnis von innen zu sehen. Krass war der Einblick in die unterirdischen Zellen.

Very neat experience. Puts an interesting spin on what it was like to live in East Germany.

Could do with some more english translations

Every german should see this.

Sorry but this place have made me sick to see, how people from old years were living!! I left the place in just 5 minutes after I entered and see something!!

Nice historical place

Maybe it was the lack of English information, or a squeamishness by the authorities, but we didn’t feel the place evoked anything of the horror of what it must have been like to be incarcerated there.

Very interesting and sad.

Excellent historical place. Very well conserved and cheap entrance ticket. A part of history of DDR in Dresden. Worth a visit if you are interested in ddr and Stasi. Explanations in English available if asked for.

(Translated by Google) Child lives here .... (Original) Kind wohnt hier....

(Translated by Google) Wonderful team. (Original) Чудовий колектив.

(Translated by Google) Friend of the Bautzner Straße Memorial in Dresden as well as regular visitor and conversation partner in the same. • amu0036.net (active from 2021) & # 160; My GBS diary, part 2 - 11.11.2020: As in previous years, there will most likely be free tours on the following days: • Sun: May 17th, 2020 (International Museum Day) & # 160; ––– Failure ––– • Sat: July 4th, 2020 (Dresden Museum Night) & # 160; ––– Failure ––– • Sun: 13.09.2020 (Open Monument Day) • Sat: December 5th, 2020 (open day). & # 160; ––– Failure ––– Most likely, admission will only have to be paid for the Dresden Museum Night. - 01.11.2020: "Good day! You are under arrest! ”- This is the name of the new audio guide who took me through the Stasi prison world of the former Dresden district administration in the form of a walk-in radio play. I went through the following stations: • Vehicle lock • Identification service registration • cell • Free passage • stairwell • shower • Interview room. I had to do, via the voices of actors, with perpetrators and victims who told me “where to go”. - And I did as I was told ... (Original) Freund der Gedenkstätte Bautzner Straße Dresden sowie regelmäßiger Besucher und Gesprächspartner in derselben. • amu0036.net (aktiv ab 2021)   Mein GBS-Tagebuch, Teil 2 – 11.11.2020: Wie auch in den vergangenen Jahren finden an folgenden Tagen sehr wahrscheinlich kostenlose Führungen statt: • So: 17.05.2020 (Internationaler Museumstag)   ––– Ausfall ––– • Sa: 04.07.2020 (Dresdner Museumsnacht)   ––– Ausfall ––– • So: 13.09.2020 (Tag des offenen Denkmals) • Sa: 05.12.2020 (Tag der offenen Tür).   ––– Ausfall ––– Eintritt muß dabei höchstwahrscheinlich nur zur Dresdner Museumsnacht bezahlt werden. – 01.11.2020: „Guten Tag! Sie sind verhaftet!“ – So heißt der neue Hörführer, der mich heute in Form eines begehbaren Hörspiels durch die Stasi-Gefängniswelt der ehemaligen Dresdner Bezirksverwaltung führte. Folgende Stationen habe ich dabei durchlaufen: • Fahrzeugschleuse • erkennungsdienstliche Erfassung • Zelle • Freigang • Treppenhaus • Dusche • Vernehmerzimmer. Zu tun hatte ich, über die Stimmen von Schaupielern, mit Tätern und Opfern, die mir sagten, „wo es langgeht“. – Und ich tat, wie mir geheißen ...

(Translated by Google) Very impressive to see what a totalitarian system does with people who do not bow to bondage and socialism. (Original) Sehr beeindrückend zu sehen, was ein totalitaires System mit Menschen macht die nicht beugen für Unfreiheit und Sozialismus.

(Translated by Google) My GBS diary, part 1 - 03/09/2020: In order to be kept up to date about upcoming events in the house, you can register at reception using a form for inclusion in an e-mail distribution list. Once this has been successfully done, you can be sure of the am & # 160; • Monday, March 16, 2020, at 6:00 p.m., & # 160; ––– Failure ––– Book reading with the German-Israeli writer Chaim Noll - son of the well-known GDR writer Dieter Noll ("The Adventures of Werner Holt", "Kippenberg") - taking place in the ballroom of the memorial. & # 160; With free admission, 2 hours of autobiographical words are advised. “My files” - the last chapter of his book “Smuggling across the time limit” - will be heard. A subsequent, lively discussion is of course desirable. - 01.03.2020: After my 8th tour - presented today by a history teacher - after 30 months I am comprehensively informed about the content by 4 contemporary witnesses (MS, SF, HK, JG) and 4 non-contemporary witnesses (KT, GV, FJH, HN) the GBS Dresden was put into the picture. - 02/09/2020: The heart of the memorial are the interviews with contemporary witnesses, which are stored on several media stations equipped with touch-sensitive screens. At the moment there are 53 of these image and audio documents in the foyer, which are structured according to topic or epoch as follows: • Soviet prisons and camps & # 160; • In Soviet pre-trial detention & # 160; • In the special warehouse & # 160; • In the gulag • MfS pre-trial detention in Dresden & # 160; • Epochs of persecution in the GDR & # 160; • Practice of repression and persecution by & # 160; • 1950s & # 160; • 1960s & # 160; • 1970s & # 160; • 1980s • Political persecution in the GDR & # 160; • Persecution and degradation in the 1970s and 1980s • Prison execution in the Soviet Zone and GDR & # 160; • Political prisoners in prison 1945–1989 & # 160; • Prisoner Work Command of the State Security Dresden • Peaceful Revolution 1989 & # 160; • End of the Dresden State Security on December 5th, 1989. - 02.02.2020: Today I was once again able to convince myself of the high technical and interpersonal skills of a receptionist who explains the complexity of the memorial with interesting additional information in such a way that many connections - especially the GDR system - can be better understood. & # 160; Lively conversations that visitors really appreciate. - 25.01.2020: For a few weeks there has been an audio guide for inspecting the Soviet detention cellar. It is spoken by 2 actors - 3 former Gulag prisoners take turns speaking in it. & # 160; At a total of 11 stations, information about the era of the late Stalin era in the GDR is provided not only in an informative but also emotionally. - 05.01.2020: During my visit to the GBS Dresden today, I took part in the 11 o'clock tour offered on the 1st Sunday of the month and this time by a historian. & # 160; The 2 basic periods of time that the memorial represents across the two main areas of its exhibition - the Soviet detention cell and the Stasi remand prison - were presented in a very well balanced manner with profound historical knowledge. - January 2nd, 2020: There is a free guided tour of the Bautzner Strasse Memorial (GBS) on every “first” Sunday of the month. It starts at 11 a.m. in the foyer and lasts about 2 hours. Registration is not required. & # 160; There is no entry fee at GBS Dresden on the “last” Sunday of the month. All exhibition areas can be viewed free of charge on this day. & # 160; In addition, on some days there is enough space and time for spontaneous, individual encounters with one or the other conversation partner ... even on weekends ... in the "Forum GeBeEssum". (Original) Mein GBS-Tagebuch, Teil 1 – 09.03.2020: Um über bevorstehende Veranstaltungen im Haus auf dem laufenden gehalten zu werden, kann man sich am Empfang über ein Formular zur Aufnahme in eine E-Mail-Verteilerliste registrieren. Sobald dies erfolgreich geschehen ist, kann man sicher sein, über die am   • Montag, dem 16. März 2020, um 18:00 Uhr,   ––– Ausfall ––– im Festsaal der Gedenkstätte stattfindende Buchlesung mit dem deutsch-israelischen Schriftsteller Chaim Noll – Sohn des bekannten DDR-Schriftstellers Dieter Noll („Die Abenteuer des Werner Holt“, „Kippenberg“) – unterrichtet zu werden.   Bei kostenlosem Eintritt sind 2 Stunden autobiographischen Wortes avisiert. Zu Gehör gebracht wird „Meine Akte“ – das letzte Kapitel seines Buches „Der Schmuggel über die Zeitgrenze“. Eine sich anschließende, vitale Diskussion sei selbst-redend erwünscht. – 01.03.2020: Nach meiner 8. Führung – am heutigen Tage dargebracht von einem Geschichtslehrer – bin ich nach nunmehr 30 Monaten durch 4 Zeitzeugen (MS, SF, HK, JG) und 4 Nicht-Zeitzeugen (KT, GV, FJH, HN) umfassend über die Inhalte der GBS Dresden ins Bild gesetzt worden. – 09.02.2020: Ein Herzstück der Gedenkstätte stellen die auf mehreren mit berührungsempfindlichen Bildschirmen ausgestatteten Medienstationen abgelegten Zeitzeugen-Interviews dar. Zur Zeit gibt es auf der im Foyer befindlichen Station 53 dieser Bild- und Tondokumente, die nach Themen bzw. Epochen wie folgt strukturiert sind: • Sowjetische Gefängnisse und Lager   • In sowjetischer Untersuchungshaft   • Im Speziallager   • Im Gulag • MfS-Untersuchungshaft in Dresden   • Verfolgungsepochen der DDR   • Unterdrückungs- und Verfolgungspraxis der   • 1950er Jahre   • 1960er Jahre   • 1970er Jahre   • 1980er Jahre • Politische Verfolgung in der DDR   • Verfolgung und Zersetzung in den 1970er und 1980er Jahren • Strafvollzug in der SBZ und DDR   • Politische Häftlinge im Strafvollzug 1945–1989   • Strafgefangenen-Arbeitskommando der Staatssicherheit Dresden • Friedliche Revolution 1989   • Ende der Dresdner Staatssicherheit am 05.12.1989. – 02.02.2020: Am heutigen Tag konnte ich mich einmal mehr von der hohen fachlichen und zwischenmenschlichen Kompetenz eines Empfangsmitarbeiters überzeugen, der die Komplexität der Gedenkstätte mit interessanten Zusatzinformationen so erläutert, daß sich viele Zusammenhänge – vor allem des DDR-Systems – noch besser erschließen.   Lebendige Gespräche, die die Besucher sehr zu schätzen wissen. – 25.01.2020: Seit einigen Wochen gibt es für die Begehung des sowjetischen Haftkellers einen Hörführer. Er wird von 2 Schauspielern gesprochen – 3 ehemalige Gulag-Häftlinge kommen in ihm abwechselnd zu Wort.   An insgesamt 11 Stationen wird nicht nur informativ, sondern auch emotional Auskunft über die Epoche der späten Stalin-Zeit in der DDR gegeben. – 05.01.2020: Während meines heutigen Besuches in der GBS Dresden hatte ich an der an jedem 1. Sonntag im Monat angebotenen und dieses Mal von einem Historiker durchgeführten 11-Uhr-Führung teilgenommen.   Dabei wurden die 2 grundlegenden Zeitabschnitte, die die Gedenkstätte über die beiden Hauptbereiche ihrer Ausstellung – den sowjetischen Haftkeller und das Stasi-Untersuchungshafthaus – repräsentiert, mit profundem Geschichtswissen sehr gut ausbalanciert dargestellt. – 02.01.2020: An jedem „ersten“ Sonntag im Monat findet in der Gedenkstätte Bautzner Straße (GBS) eine kostenlose Führung statt. Sie beginnt um 11 Uhr im Foyer und dauert ca. 2 Stunden. Eine Anmeldung ist nicht erforderlich.   An jedem „letzten“ Sonntag im Monat wird in der GBS Dresden kein Eintrittsentgelt erhoben. Alle Ausstellungsbereiche können an diesem Tag kostenlos in Augenschein genommen werden.   Zudem bleibt an so manchen Tagen genügend Raum und Zeit für spontane, individuelle Begegnungen mit dem einen oder anderen Gesprächspartner ... auch am Wochenende ... im „Forum GeBeEssum“.

(Translated by Google) Definitely worth a visit! We were absolutely thrilled. Top plus: FREE audio guide !!! (Original) Auf alle Fälle ein Besuch wert!!! Wir waren absolut begeistert. Top Pluspunkt: KOSTENLOSER Audioguide!!!

(Translated by Google) Very interesting, and emotional. Well worth a visit. (Original) Sehr interessant, und emotional. Ist ein Besuch wert.

(Translated by Google) Authentic place, very informative exhibition, is recommended. (Original) Authentischer Ort, sehr informative Ausstellung, ist zu empfehlen.

(Translated by Google) impressive, a part of German history, a tour of which should be a must for everyone (Original) beeindruckend, ein Teil deutscher Geschichte, dessen Besichtigung zum Pflichtprogramm eines Jeden gehören sollte

(Translated by Google) Very informative with a fair entry price. But you should really take your time. Recommendable. (Original) Sehr aufschlussreich mit fairem Eintrittspreis. Man sollte sich aber wirklich Zeit nehmen. Empfehlenswert.

(Translated by Google) Something hits the mind because it's truth (Original) Schlägt etwas aufs Gemüt, weil es Wahrheit ist

(Translated by Google) Should be a must visit. Not quite as interesting and extensive as Hohenschönhausen, but still instructive. (Original) Sollte Pflichtbesuch werden. Nicht ganz so interessant und umfangreich wie Hohenschönhausen aber trotzdem lehrreich.

(Translated by Google) Very authentic, sometimes depressing atmosphere. One can actually understand the situation of the prisoners to some extent. (Original) Sehr authentisch, teils bedrückende Atmosphäre. Die Situation der Häftlinge kann man tatsächlich in Ansätzen nachvollziehen.

(Translated by Google) This historic place is a real downer. With lots of jokes about the GDR and tweets with an alleged Honecker, including Twitter, one quickly forgets what a criminal regime the GDR was. Here he is straightened out again, about the torture and interrogation cellar of the Soviet secret service, about the Stasi prison and very revealingly the stuffy and ugly offices of the dictatorship. (Original) Dieser historische Ort ist ein echter Downer. Über viele Witze über die DDR und Tweets mit einem angeblichen Honecker auch Twitter vergisst man schnell, was für ein Verbrecher Regime die DDR war . Hier wird er es wieder gerade gerückt, über die Folter und Verhör Keller des sowjetischen Geheimdienstes, über das Gefängnis der Stasi und sehr aufschlussreich die spießigen und potthässlichen Büroräume der Diktatur.

(Translated by Google) Is okay (Original) Ist schon okay

(Translated by Google) Very informative and well done. The audio guide is recommended. (Original) Sehr informativ und gut gemacht. Der audio Guide ist zu empfehlen.

(Translated by Google) Very impressive (Original) Sehr beeindruckend

(Translated by Google) Very interesting to see how things were there back then. With the audio guide it was a successful trip. (Original) Sehr interessant zu sehen, wie es dort damals zuging. Mit dem Audio Guide war es ein gelungener Ausflug.

(Translated by Google) Very interesting for every inquisitive person, here you can see many things that were long kept secret in the GDR. This memorial symbolizes the importance of this time. There was an audio guide there. We stayed there for about 3 hours and it was very worth it. I can only recommend it (Original) Sehr interessant für jeden wissbegierigen Menschen, hier sieht man viele Dinge, die in der DDR lange verschwiegen wurden. Diese Gedenkstätte symbolisiert die Wichtigkeit dieser Zeit. Es gab dort eine Audioguide Führung. Wir blieben dort ca 3h und es hat sich sehr gelohnt. Kann man nur empfehlen

(Translated by Google) 👍 very interesting, you get very intimate insights into the world of the GDR. (Original) 👍 sehr interessant, man bekommt sehr intime Einblicke in die Welt der DDR.

(Translated by Google) Good audio guide. I can only recommend doing both tours offered. Very authentic. (Original) Guter Audioguide. Ich kann nur empfehlen beide angebotene Touren zu machen. Sehr authentisch.

Museum is very interesting. Though it’s a shame that the audio-guided tour is only in German. Also the posters are all in German.