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Leipzig transit home

Transit homes were part of the GDR’s system of special homes and were usually prison-like facilities to accommodate children and juveniles temporarily.

In 1951, a transit home with 34 places for boys and girls aged 10 to 18 was established in Neudorfgasse 1, Leipzig. The home changed locations several times due to overcrowding. For a time, it was situated in Braustrasse (where in 1953, 2,178 juveniles passed through the facility, with up to 60 new arrivals a day) and also in Windorfer Strasse, before returning to Neudorfgasse in 1959.

Sometimes, there were 60 new arrivals a day. Although the planned period of stay was not meant to last more than a few days, a number of juveniles were kept there for several months. Some had to work on building sites, while school education was virtually non-existent. Minor offences were punished with several days’ detention. The home was poorly equipped. At night, the staff locked the dormitories, forcing the juveniles to use a bucket if they needed to go to the toilet.

In August 1982, the transit home was moved to a newly constructed building in Torgauer Strasse 351, Leipzig-Heiterblick and remained there until its closure in late 1986.

Transit homes

Children and juveniles aged 3 to 18 were accommodated in the GDR’s transit homes until a decision was made about their futures. They included minors who had run away from home because it was too dangerous for them to remain with their parents. Others were due to be housed in more permanent homes, but were still waiting to be allocated a place. Due to the strict security regulations, transit homes were similar to prisons and always meant depriving the children of their freedom. After their official closure in 1987, some facilities continued to operate as transit facilities.