'Tripperburgen' the sexual health clinics that detained women

After the Second World War, in what was then East Germany, or the German Democratic Republic (GDR), tens of thousands of women and girls were forcibly detained and abused in sexual health clinics.

In 1977, at the age of 15, Sabine was at a house party in Leipzig when police came for her. She was taken to a so-called ‘Tripperburgen’ which translates to ‘gonorrhoea castle’.

After 31 days she was told to leave. Research shows at least 10 of these wards existed in the GDR and 70% of the women had not been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.

Sabine tells Megan Jones about what happened to her, including being subjected to her first ever gynaecological exam.

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(Photo: Tripperburgen at Riebeckstraße 63. Credit: Fotozentrum Leipzig)