Terror at the Execution Site

Terror at the Execution Site

Introduction West of Checkpoint Charlie, along Niederkirchnerstraße, once stood some of the most terrifying institutions of the Third Reich: the Gestapo headquarters, the central command of the Nazi SS, the SS Security Service, and from 1939 onward, the Reich Main Security Office.

These buildings no longer exist, but since 1997, a poignant open-air exhibition titled “Topography of Terror” has been recounting the historical significance of the site and the brutal institutions that once occupied it. The exhibition is in German, but free English audio guides are available at the information desk. Please note that some images in the exhibition may be too graphic for children.

Berlin, Germany