The first and one of the most famous concentration camp was created in Oranienburg, Germany, the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. It was constructed in the year 1936, and it provided model and practical organs for other concentration camps during the holocaust period. It would be a great introduction to complete this blog post, as it will give people some general idea of Sachsenhausen as well as its background and importance.
1. Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen Near Oranienburg (Main Activities and Characteristics, Development of KZ Sachsenhausen)
The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was first set up as a camp for prisoners of German politics, the most common of whom were Communists. It was later added to Jews, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other similar category of people. The camp was in use until it was liberated in April 1945 by the Soviet forces.
Those at Sachsenhausen were given appalling treatment and forced to labour while starving and in poor health. The camp consequently transformed into a piece of hell for many people and one representing the tortures perpetrated by Nazi during the Second World War.
- Camp Structure and Organization as well as the Campbell’s Daily Life
Although this camp was intended as an economic and spiritual new start for prisoners, with a capacity of about 6,000 people, it at one point housed more than fifty-five thousand. The camp had office facilities, huts, the punishment area, and the large gas chamber – the center of extermination at the camp. There was a prison surrounded by a high wall with guard towers located around the camp area.
Infrahumanisation existed in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp through physical torture, forced labor, particularly mining and construction work. These people suffered poor standard of living by getting very little nutrition, and very often getting beaten by SS guards. Torture and other inhuman treatments both medical experiments and other CAN pits were also administered on the prisoners.
2.1. Appellplatz and Roll Call
Daily, prisoners were paraded every morning in the Appellplatz which is a central ground of the camp for them to be counted. This harsh operation required inmates to stand for hours in any harsh weather while the count was being taken. Failing to conform or any attempt to refuse during formation call always led to being punished or even killed.
2.2. Prisoner Classification System
Kraus claims that the SS distinguished between the prisoners using colored triangles with the inmate sewing them on their garments. Some wore red for political reasons, Jews wore yellow, homosexuals wore pink and so on. This system also enabled the SS guards to know the different groups quickly, and isolate them conveniently.
3. Delivery from Oppression and Commemoration
Sachsenhausen was liberated and it was by Soviet force in April of 1945. After the liberation the camp was used for a while as a Soviet special camp until 1950. It was reopened the 16th anniversary of Sachsenhausen Massacre in 1961, and it was turned into the memorial and museum dedicated to the victims of the Nazi’s actions.
Currently, Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum is a valuable historical site with the purpose to inform the population about the holocaust. At the site the guests are welcome to visit exhibitions, observe the existing authentic buildings, as well as honor the victims with help of memorials.
4. In occasions of forgetting, the Silence and Sachsenhausen briefly appear again and merging, providing the officers’ education: Remembering and Learning Sachsenhausen.
Concentration camp Sachsenhausen is remembered to provide an example of the world’s evils and the outcomes of enmity, and hatred. Through learning as well as experiencing place such as Sachsenhausen, it is possible to understand the history and prevent any similar events in the future.
The grieving should be avenged and the loss and pain they went through and are still going through should never be forgotten. That is why, knowing the Sachsenhausen story, everyone can become a member of a society, which is more tolerant and understanding.
