Since 1935, the commandant's house had been home to a military or war court. During the Second World War, this court sentenced up to 60 deserters to death. The holding cells were located in the basement of the Defensionskaserne. Many of the executions were carried out at Petersberg. Since 1995, the memorial commemorates those soldiers who no longer wanted to serve the criminal regime. The monument was created by the Erfurt artist Thomas Nicolai.