Grotewohl

Stasi prison July 26, 1985

We rush out into the open.
Wildly across the railway tracks.
In the distance: one run-down wagon.

The GDR prison train was called "Grotewohl Express" by the people who had the "pleasure" to ride it. Otto Grotewohl was the GDR's MP from 1949 till 1964 during which time this prison train was built and deployed.

It looks monstrous without a platform to stand on.
Dark green monster with translucent glass windows and iron bars.
We come to a stop as an officer waves documents and talks to the guards.

Roll call.
My hand is wet with blood.
One guard tells me that they’ll look after it soon.

 

*Testimony -> Start. This blog entry is part of a linear narrated testimony of the contemporary witness Jens Thieme who was imprisoned 1985-1986 as a political prisoner in various GDR prisons by the GDR Ministry of State Security. Stasi prison, Stasi jail, Stasi detention.