Exploring The Haunting History Of An Abandoned Sanitorium Where Hitler Once Sought Treatment

Today, it's all old and falling apart, but it still holds onto its past.

Damjan

• Published in Weird
• April 1, 2024

Exploring old buildings can be like hunting for hidden treasures. And if you're doing it in Germany, especially in the eastern part, you might find something amazing.

Like this abandoned hospital in Beelitz. It's not just any old building; it's got a big story behind it.

The thing about exploring old places is that you can uncover secrets from the past. And this hospital in Beelitz has plenty of stories to tell. It was first built a long time ago, back when people were struggling with a disease called tuberculosis.

The hospital was like a haven for those who were sick, offering them a place to heal and find hope. But its story doesn't end there.

During World War I, the hospital became a place where wounded soldiers were taken care of. And guess who was treated there?

None other than Adolf Hitler himself. Yep, even big historical figures have been through those halls.

As time went on, the hospital saw a lot of changes. Different ideas came and went, but the building stayed standing.

Today, it's all old and falling apart, but it still holds onto its past. Exploring it is like stepping back in time and feeling the echoes of history all around you.

Today, the Beelitz-Heilstätten hospital complex stands in eerie abandonment. Initially established in 1916 as a military hospital under the administration of the Imperial German Army, it holds historical significance as the site where a youthful Adolf Hitler recovered from a leg injury sustained during the tumult of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.

Historical records indicate that Hitler sustained an injury to his thigh when a hostile shell detonated near his dugout. He underwent a two-month recovery period at the Beelitz hospital before rejoining his unit in 1917.

It remains a matter of speculation whether Hitler's time at the hospital influenced his later actions. Nonetheless, the notion of exploring the very space where a young Hitler once resided carries an eerie undertone.

However, Hitler wasn't the sole luminary from German history to have been admitted to this hospital.

After the conclusion of World War II, the hospital complex fell under the occupation of the Red Army. It continued to function as a Soviet military hospital until 1995, a span that extended beyond the reunification of East and West Germany by several years.

In December 1990, amidst the fervor of German reunification, Erich Honecker, the president of East Germany, was conveyed to Beelitz-Heilstätten.

Before gaining access to the facility, Honecker was compelled by Eastern authorities to step down from his position as the leader of the East German government. This action subsequently cleared the path for reunification.

Following Germany's unification, various endeavors were undertaken to privatize the hospital and sustain its operations. Regrettably, no interested buyers emerged during this period.

Some sections of the establishment remain active, serving as both a hub for neurological rehabilitation and a center dedicated to Parkinson's disease research.

However, as of 2007, none of the vacant structures within the hospital complex, including the psychiatric ward and surgery wing, had been properly secured.

As a result, the sanatorium has emerged as a prime destination for global urban explorers.

When you're exploring the old hospital in Beelitz, remember it's more than just a building. It's like stepping back in time and hearing the stories of the people who lived there long ago.

From helping sick folks with tuberculosis to treating wounded soldiers during the war, this place has seen a lot.

So, next time you're exploring, keep in mind the history that's waiting to be uncovered in Beelitz—a reminder of the past that still echoes today.

Damjan