Torn down in 1938, KZ Columbia’s physical presence is gone. This place once echoed with terror. Today, we stand near where it stood. KZ Columbia was one of the first concentration camps in Berlin.
In 1933, the Nazis seized power. They quickly needed prisons for political enemies. Columbia House, a former military prison, became their target. Built in 1896, it was once a place to punish disobedient soldiers. By the 1930s, it was a dark, run-down building.
The Gestapo, the Nazi secret police, took control. They filled Columbia House with prisoners. Many were relocated from other overcrowded prisons. By 1934, 450 people were confined in just 156 cells. Conditions were brutal. Prisoners faced humiliation, torture, and even death. KZ Columbia became infamous for its lawlessness.
Remarkably, in September 1934, authorities officially banned harassment and cruelty. This was an exceptional event for a concentration camp. Yet, the terror continued. KZ Columbia existed until November 1936. It was initially a Gestapo prison. Later, it became part of the expanding concentration camp system.
In December 1934, KZ Columbia came under the control of the Inspection of Concentration Camps. Theodor Eicke, commander of Dachau, issued strict rules. These rules aimed to create an orderly system of imprisonment. But in reality, prisoners remained at the mercy of cruel guards.
KZ Columbia became the only official SS concentration camp in Berlin. Prisoners were transported daily to Gestapo headquarters for interrogation. Over 8,000 people were imprisoned here. They included communists, social democrats, intellectuals and Jewish people. Homosexuals also formed a large part of the prison population.
Many prominent figures were held at KZ Columbia. Erich Honecker, who later became the leader of East Germany, was imprisoned here. The prison conditions were appalling. Food was scarce. Medical care was almost non-existent.
SS commanders used KZ Columbia to advance their careers. Karl Otto Koch, a later commander of Sachsenhausen and Buchenwald, gained experience here. His photo album documented the daily routine. It showed the prisoners from the perspective of the offenders.
In November 1936, KZ Columbia was closed. Prisoners were moved to the newly built Sachsenhausen camp. The Columbia House was in the way of Tempelhof Airport’s expansion. In 1938, it was torn down.
The exact number of deaths at KZ Columbia remains unknown. No one was ever charged for the crimes committed here. Today, a memorial stands at Columbiadamm. Created by Georg Seibert in 1994, it serves as a reminder of the victims. It stands as a warning against repeating history. The steel sculpture is actually positioned on the wrong side of the street. This happened as a result of minimal public interest in the topic of Tempelhof Field’s Nazi past. Berlin’s district representatives and some dedicated citizens have, however, recently begun to advocate for the relocation of the sculpture so that it will stand where Columbia House actually once stood.
As we leave this site, remember the suffering that occurred here. Reflect on the importance of vigilance. Never forget the victims of KZ Columbia. Their stories must be told.