Historical Events tagged with "devil's island"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

Closure of the Notorious Devil's Island Penal Colony

August 22nd, 1953 71 years ago

The penal colony on Devil's Island was officially closed in 1953, ending an infamous chapter in French penal history. Established in 1852, the island became known for its harsh conditions and the imprisonment of political dissidents. Among the notable prisoners was Captain Alfred Dreyfus, who was wrongfully convicted of treason. The closure marked a significant shift in France's penal system and highlighted changing attitudes toward incarceration and human rights.

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