Colditz Castle

Colditz Castle is a castle in the town of Colditz near Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz in the state of Saxony in Germany ({{coor dms|51|7|38.208|N|12|48|30.384|E|}}). Used as a workhouse for the indigent and a mental institution for over 100 years, it became notorious as Oflag IVc or Offizier Lager IVc (Officer's Camp IVc), a prisoner-of-war camp for "incorrigible" allied officers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps, as well as volksfeindlich (those "treasonous against the people") during World War II.

History

The original castle

In 1046, Henry III of the Holy Roman Empire gave the burgher of Colditz permission to build the first documented settlement at the site. In 1083, Henry IV recommended Count Wiprecht of Groitzsch to develop the castle site, which Colditz accepted. In 1158, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa appointed Thimo I "Lord of Colditz", and major building works began. Around 1200, the actual city around the market was established. Forests, empty meadows, and farmland were settled and organized next to the pre-existing slavic villages Zschetzsch, Zschadraß, Zollwitz, Terpitzsch and Koltzschen. Around that time the larger villages Hohnbach, Thierbaum, Ebersbach and Tautenhain also emerged.

Related Topics:
1046 - Henry III - Holy Roman Empire - Burgher - Settlement - 1083 - Henry IV - Count - Wiprecht of Groitzsch - 1158 - Emperor Frederick Barbarossa - Thimo I - 1200 - Forest - Meadow - Farmland - Slavic - Zschetzsch - Zschadraß - Zollwitz - Terpitzsch - Koltzschen - Hohnbach - Thierbaum - Ebersbach - Tautenhain

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In the Middle Ages, the castle played an important role as a watchtower for the German Emperors and therefore was the center of the Reich territories of the Pleißenland (an imperial estate). Around 1404, the nearly 250-year-old dynasty of the Lords of Colditz ended when Thimo VIII sold Colditz Castle for 15,000 silver marks into the possession of the Wettin family dynasty.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - German Emperors - Reich - Pleißenland - 1404 - Thimo VIII - Silver - Marks - Wettin family dynasty

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As a result of territorial politics in Saxony, the city and state of Colditz was officially established in the Margravate (county) of Meißen. In 1430, the Hussites attacked Colditz and set city and castle on fire. Around 1464, renovation and new building work on the Castle was carried out by Prince Ernst, who died in Colditz Castle in 1486. Under Frederick the Wise and Johann the Gentle, Colditz was a royal residence of the Electors of Saxony.

Related Topics:
Saxony - Margravate - Meißen - 1430 - Hussites - 1464 - Prince Ernst - 1486 - Frederick the Wise - Johann the Gentle - Electors of Saxony

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The rebuilt castle

In 1504, the servant Clemens the baker accidentally set Colditz on fire, and the city hall, church, castle and a large part of the city went up in flames. In 1506, reconstruction began and new buildings were raised around the rear castle courtyard. In 1523 the castle park was turned into one of the largest zoos in Europe. In 1524, rebuilding of the upper floors of the castle began. The castle was reconstructed in a fashion that corresponded to the way it was divided up — into the cellar, the royal house and the banquet hall building. There is nothing more to be seen of the original fortified castle, where the present rear castle is located, but it is still possible to make out where the original divisions were (the Old or Lower House, the Upper House and the Great House).

Related Topics:
1504 - 1506 - 1523 - Zoo - Europe - 1524

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The structure of the castle was changed under the long reign of the elector Augustus of Saxony (1553 to 1586), and the complex was reconstructed into a Renaissance style castle from 1577 to 1591, including the portions that were still in the gothic architectural style. Architects Hans Irmisch and Peter Kummer supervised the further restoration and rebuilding. Later, Lucas Cranach the Younger was commissioned as an artist in the Castle.

Related Topics:
Elector - Augustus of Saxony - 1553 - 1586 - Renaissance style - 1577 - 1591 - Gothic architectural - Hans Irmisch - Peter Kummer - Lucas Cranach the Younger

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During this period the portal at what is known as the church house was created in 1584, made of porphyry and richly decorated in the mannerist style by Andreas Walther II. It was at this time that both the interior and the exterior of "the Holy Trinity" castle chapel that links the cellar and royal house with one another were redesigned. Shortly thereafter, the castle became an administrative centre for the Office of Colditz and a hunting lodge. In 1694, its then-current holder, Augustus the Strong, began to expand it, resulting in a second courtyard and a total of 700 rooms.

Related Topics:
1584 - Porphyry - Mannerist - Andreas Walther II - Chapel - Hunting - Lodge - 1694 - Augustus the Strong

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The modern castle

In the 19th century, the church space was rebuilt in the neo-classic architectural style, but its condition was allowed to deteriorate. The castle was used by Frederick Augustus III, Elector of Saxony as a workhouse to feed the poor, the ill, and persons under arrest. It served this purpose from 1803 to 1829, when its workhouse function was taken over by an institution in Zwickau. In 1829 the castle became a mental hospital for the "incurably insane" from Waldheim. In 1864, a new hospital building was erected in the Neo-Renaissance style, on the ground where the stables and working quarters were previously located. It remained a mental institution until 1924.

Related Topics:
19th century - Neo-classic architectural - Frederick Augustus III, Elector of Saxony - 1803 - 1829 - Zwickau - Mental hospital - Waldheim - 1864 - Neo-Renaissance style - Stable - 1924

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During World War I, the castle was used as a Prisoner of War camp (see POW). No escapes were made at this time. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, they turned the castle into a political prison for communists, homosexuals, Jews, and other "undesirables". It was not until 1940 that allied prisoners were housed there. In April 1945, US troops entered Colditz town and, after a two-day fight, liberated the castle on April 16.

Related Topics:
World War I - Prisoner of War camp - POW - Nazi - 1933 - Communists - Homosexual - Jew - 1940 - Allied - April - 1945 - April 16

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In May 1945, the Soviet occupation of Colditz began. Following the Yalta Conference it then became a part of East Germany. The Soviets turned Colditz castle into a prison camp for local burghers and non-communists. Later the castle was a home for the aged and nursing home, as well as a hospital and psychiatric clinic. For many years after the War, forgotten hiding spots and tunnels were found by repairmen.

Related Topics:
Soviet - Yalta Conference - East Germany - Nursing home - Hospital

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The current castle

Today the castle and the church space require a significant amount of refurbishment and restoration. The last users moved out on August 1, 1996, and since then the castle has been almost empty except for the occasional visitor. The "Gesellschaft Schloss Colditz e.V." (the Castle Colditz historical society), founded in 1996, has its offices in a portion of the administration building in the front castle court.

Related Topics:
Refurbishment - August 1 - 1996

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As of 2005 portions of the castle are closed off to tourists due to renovation. In particular the chapel, portions of the attic, much of the interior, the tunnels, and at least one exterior face are undergoing refinishing.

Related Topics:
As of 2005 - Tourist

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