Erasmus+ Projekt 2019 - 2022/Mobilität Rumänien

Memorial to the victims of communism

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The prison, which was active from 1897 until 1977, takes its name from the period during the 1950s when it held many political prisoners (former government ministers, generals, academicians, and religious leaders - the cultural and political elite of Romania) in terrible conditions - brought here. Starting in August 1948, Sighet Prison was set aside for political opponents of the government. At first, it held students, pupils, and peasants from the Maramures region. The first batch of such detainees consisted of 18 students from Dragos Voda High School, accused of demonstrating against the communist regime. They were brought in on 29 August, and were released in May 1949.

On the night of 5 May 1950, over one hundred former dignitaries from the whole country were brought to the Sighet penitentiary (former ministers and other politicians, as well as academics, economists, military officers, historians, and journalists), some of them sentenced to heavy punishments, and others held without any form of trial.

180 prisoners were held in terrible conditions in 72 cells. Many were elderly but this didn't save them from beatings and punishment so it is no surprise that many died.

--> The Sighet Memorial - Virtual tour: The Sighet Memorial – Virtual tour