Arkivet (Kristiansand)

Arkivet, located in Kristiansand, Norway, is a historically significant building originally constructed in 1935 for the Archival Services. It served as the Gestapo headquarters in southern Norway from 1942 to 1945 during the Nazi occupation, where approximately 3,500 Norwegians were arrested and many tortured. Today, it is operated by the foundation Stiftelsen Arkivet, which focuses on education and research related to Norway's occupation history. The building houses a museum that reconstructs the conditions of its wartime use, including torture chambers, and serves as an information center for World War II history. It also features a monument honoring 162 Norwegian victims of the war. Open to the public, Arkivet is a unique site for those interested in Norway's past and the impact of war on society.