Colonia Dignidad: The Torture Colony
Author:
Colonia Dignidad entrance.
Created in 1961, Colonia Dignidad (Dignity Colony), known today as Villa Baviera, was once a respected German commune in Chile. Located 4 hours outside of Santiago, the colony was founded by German national, Paul Schäfer. A preacher, Schäfer obtained political power and controlled the colony for more than three decades. Though, little did people know that this colony was actually home to suffering, sexual abuse and forced labor. With the charasmatic Schäfer at the head of this respected community, decades of human rights violations went under the radar. But how? Why didn’t the German nor Chilean governments intervene? How did the colony gain such respect and who exactly was Paul Schäfer?