Didn’t this seemingly ordinary building once echo with the darkest secrets of the Third Reich? That’s the JVA Dortmund. This isn’t just any prison. It’s a place where echoes of history resonate, a site of both despair and, surprisingly, art.
JVA Dortmund first opened its doors in December 1902. Initially, it served solely as a detention center. The JVA Dortmund is located near the Dortmund district court. People also call it “Lübecker Hof” due to its location on Lübecker Straße.
During the Nazi era, the JVA Dortmund became a central execution site. In 1943, a guillotine was installed here. It was meant to relieve the execution site in Cologne. Over 300 people were executed between 1943 and 1945. These included resistance fighters, foreign Nacht und Nebel prisoners, and even German soldiers.
One tragic story is that of Ilse Mitze. The 19-year-old was beheaded for stealing clothes after a bombing raid. Another victim was Oskar Aschoff. The young Wehrmacht deserter tried to flee to the Netherlands.
After the war, the British Military Government used the JVA Dortmund again as an execution site. A rebuilt guillotine was used on around 50 people. These were mostly sentences by British military courts. In 1950, Justice Minister Amelunxen ordered the destruction of the Dortmund guillotine.
But the JVA Dortmund has evolved. Parts of the old prison were torn down between 1970 and 1972. A new economic building was built. In 1980, another extension added 73 cells and an underground sports hall.
Today, the JVA Dortmund houses around 404 inmates. Half are awaiting trial and the other half are serving sentences. In 2017, the prison library received an award as “Prison Library of the Year”.
In 2019, the JVA Dortmund participated in the Evangelical Church Congress. Artists created two large murals on the outer facade. One shows the story of doubting Thomas. The other depicts a young man receiving bad news.
The JVA Dortmund also served as the location for a Tatort episode. However, filming took place in a former prison in Magdeburg.
A memorial plaque was placed on the prison wall in 1989. It commemorates the victims of Nazi justice. Despite its dark past, the JVA Dortmund continues to function as a prison. It also stands as a reminder of the importance of justice and remembrance.
The JVA Dortmund is responsible for adult men serving prison sentences. It handles sentences from three to 18 months in initial and standard execution. For foreigners, the authority extends to sentences of up to 48 months. The facility also executes pre-trial detention, extradition and transit detention. It also handles the execution of disciplinary detention.