Das Niefindthaus
Winsen (Aller)
The Niefindthaus documents 165 years of Winsen's history - from the half-timbered house on Poststrasse to the administrative building next to the town hall. In the area of conflict between rural tradition and modern, citizen-friendly administration, it stands for the development of Winsen from a tranquil heath village to a history-conscious community of 13,000 inhabitants.
A replica of a pillory has been erected on the gable end of the house. The pillory or pillory was widely used from the 13th century onwards to enforce honorary punishments imposed for minor offenses. The punishment consisted primarily of the public disgrace that the convicted person had to endure, who was placed in the pillory for all to see. The pillory, erected in the immediate vicinity of an office building, served as an external sign of jurisdiction.
The "Hunnelock", the barred detention cell in the vault of the gatehouse, which stood on this site as part of the office building ensemble until 2010, is also visible at the Niefindthaus.
The original grille was preserved when the building was demolished and inserted into the Niefindthaus in its authentic location.
A stone erected at the rear of the building on April 6, 2014 as part of a commemorative event commemorates the death marches in April 1945.
The inscription on the memorial stone reads:
In memory:
From April 7 to 10, 1945, the SS and their helpers drove more than 4,000 prisoners from concentration camp work camps in "death marches" through our town to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Despite being threatened by the SS guards, some courageous women tried to help with bread and water.
Wilhelm Scheinhardt and his wife Alwine hid and cared for nine French prisoners until the British army marched in.