The Soviet Intelligence City ‘Military Compound No. 7

Structural remnants and traces in Potsdam’s Nauener Vorstadt still bear witness to the nearly fifty years of use as a secret service compound by the Soviet military counterintelligence. The aim of this guided tour is to make these traces visible to visitors and to convey the history and structure of this almost self-contained “Military Compound” through a walk through the former high-security area.

The tour begins at a detailed scale model in the courtyard of the former pre-trial prison. It becomes immediately clear that “Military Compound No. 7” was a focal point of the Cold War. The route then leads past the former administrative headquarters of the counterintelligence service, the courtroom of Soviet military tribunals, and the residence of the local secret service chief, among other locations.

Historical photographs illustrate the extensive architectural changes made to these former villas. In addition, remains of a large monument complex and Russian-language construction inscriptions testify to the everyday life of the intelligence officers and soldiers once stationed here.

The total walking distance of the tour is approximately 1.2 km.