KGB Prison, Potsdam

== History ==

== History ==

After the Soviet occupation of Berlin, the buildings were converted into a prison by the end of summer, 1945. The prison originally was intended for Nazi war criminals, but by 1947 the goal shifted to imprisoning soviet political prisoners and suspected western spies. The facility was also responsible for KGB intelligence gathering in the [[Soviet occupation zone in Germany|Soviet Occupation Zone in]] [[Soviet occupation zone in Germany|Germany]].<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |title=1945-1991 Zentrales Untersuchungsgefängnis der sowjetischen Militärspionageabwehr-Gedenk‑ und Begegnungsstätte Leistikowstraße Potsdam |url=https://www.leistikowstrasse-sbg.de/geschichte/1945-1991-zentrales-untersuchungsgefaengnis-der-sowjetischen-militaerspionageabwehr/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.leistikowstrasse-sbg.de}}</ref>

the Soviet occupation of Berlin, the converted into a prison by the end of summer 1945. for Nazi war criminals, by 1947 the goal shifted to imprisoning political prisoners and suspected western spies. The facility was also responsible for KGB intelligence gathering in the [[Soviet occupation zone in Germany|Soviet Occupation Zone in]] [[Soviet occupation zone in Germany|Germany]].<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |title=1945-1991 Zentrales Untersuchungsgefängnis der sowjetischen Militärspionageabwehr-Gedenk‑ und Begegnungsstätte Leistikowstraße Potsdam |url=https://www.leistikowstrasse-sbg.de/geschichte/1945-1991-zentrales-untersuchungsgefaengnis-der-sowjetischen-militaerspionageabwehr/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.leistikowstrasse-sbg.de}}</ref>

Until 1955 Germans were also interned here who were suspected of being active as [[Werwolf]] members or of carrying out espionage for the Allied Occupation Powers in the [[Four Power Agreement on Berlin|Western Sector]] of [[West-Berlin|Berlin]]. Soviet soldiers, who were accused of [[collaboration]], [[desertion]] or close contact with the population, were imprisoned here until the mid-1980s. Many inmates were subject to violent [[interrogation]] before being sentenced to death or to many years imprisonment and transported to [[Vorkuta Gulag]] or other labor camps of the Soviet [[Gulag]] system.<ref name=”:0″ />

Until 1955 Germans were also interned here who were suspected of being active as [[Werwolf]] members or of carrying out espionage for the Allied Occupation Powers in the [[Four Power Agreement on Berlin|Western Sector]] of [[West-Berlin|Berlin]]. Soviet soldiers, who were accused of [[collaboration]], [[desertion]] or close contact with the population, were imprisoned here until the mid-1980s. Many inmates were subject to violent [[interrogation]] before being sentenced to death or to many years imprisonment and transported to [[Vorkuta Gulag]] or other labor camps of the Soviet [[Gulag]] system.<ref name=”:0″ />