8 homes in 18 years do not leave anyone unaffected, not even me. This book illustrates how institutional care was understood and functioned in the GDR. Abuse, forced labor, solitary confinement, and food deprivation are just a few of the measures I had to endure. A stay in an institution, especially at a very young age, is always associated with a prior tragedy for those affected. Outsiders may think that a child is well cared for when in state custody from time to time. Unfortunately, this assumption is not always accurate, at least not in my case. I spent 18 years in various homes in the former GDR, including infant homes and specialized facilities (homes for psychodiagnostics and psychological therapy), which interpreted and practiced the concept of pedagogy in very different ways. The worst experiences were.