View from Island Royale at Devil´s Island

Sicht von der Insel Royale auf die Teufelsinsel

Walking over the grounds among the islands remaining prison ruins still generates shivers running down a visitor’s spine. In1852, France established convict settlements in French Guiana. The last prisoner did not leave from here until 1953. Most notoriously known were the tiger gages at Devil’s Island, although the actual “Chambers of Death” were located at Royale Island. Of the 80,000 plus prisoners shipped here during it’s 100-year existence, only few returned.

Von 1852 bis 1953 war die Teufelsinsel vor der Küste von Französisch-Guayana eine berüchtigte französische Strafkolonie. Die Insel war für politische Gefangene bestimmt, während gewöhnliche Straftäter auf dem Festland, in den Städten Kourou und Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in Lager untergebracht wurden. 1938 begannen die Franzosen, die Gefängnisanlage zu schließen. Der letzte Inhaftierte wurde jedoch erst 1953 nach Frankreich zurückgeschickt.

Prisoner in foot locks

Häftling mit Fußfesseln

Feeding time

Essenausgabe

Guillotining of a prisoner.

Enthauptung eines Gefangenen

Few of the original prison compounds as well the prison governor’s headquarters are still standing. The penal colony made famous in the film “Papillion” after most of the horrifying scenes were shot on site. Henry Charriere, the only convict to escape Devil’s Island, wrote his life story in the best selling book Papillion, and was present during filming.

Also remaining are few of the tiger-cage type cells of the once feared isolation compound. This cell housed Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who was falsely accused for treason/espionage and sentenced to life in prison.

He was the victim of an anti-Semitic plot of French Army officers. He was freed after four years from Devil’s Island when Emily Zola’s literary work exposed his innocence.