The trip for Years 9–11 to the Lower Saxony State Archives in Osnabrück took place as part of the German Foundation for Monument Protection’s nationwide school programme (‘denkmal aktiv’). At the archives, the participants worked with original contemporary sources from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Using files on prisoners from Lingen Prison and the Emsland camps, they gained insights into historical administrative procedures, the offences and punishments of the prisoners, and the social conditions of the respective periods. The direct encounter with the original documents was particularly valuable, as it gave the pupils an authentic insight into the history of the regional justice system.
The field trip provided further insight into the project work on the history and heritage value of Lingen Prison. The findings from the archive form an important basis for further exploration of issues relating to heritage conservation, the use of historic buildings, and communicating their significance to the public. Overall, the participants found the trip to be very enriching and motivating for the ongoing project work.
Text & images: Yasmine Späth
