If you are interested in learning more about the history of World War II and the Holocaust, visiting concentration camps can offer a powerful and educational experience. While there are no concentration camps located within Berlin city limits, there are several significant sites nearby that you can visit. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the concentration camp memorials near Berlin that you can add to your itinerary.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

The Sachsenhausen is one of the most visit and best preserved concentration camp memorials close to Berlin. Sachsenhausen concentration camp is in Oranienburg, 35 km north of Berlin and was an administrative center for the concentration camp system during Second World War. Memorial presents all kind of information about the camp history and exhibits, and there are guided tours which share the information about daily life of prisoners.

What to see at Sachsenhausen?

This is about the “Station Z” execution facility

Clinical buildings, barracks for prisoners, and structures filmed after their restoration

The place with displays about the camp itself

The appellplatz was mainly the roll call area which was usually a square or other large open space paved with concrete.

There were Watchtowers and Perimeter wall

The path of the camp prisoners memorial

The Ravensbrück Concentration Camp

Another important place to see is the Ravensbrüick concentration camp which was the largest concentration camp which was for women only. Situated 90 km north of Berlin, the camp was set up in 1939 and it imprisoned about 130000 women. A journey to Ravensbrück enables the population to get acquainted with holocaust and suffering of women and become aware of their courage.

What can you find out more at Ravensbrück?

The former prisoner barracks

The reconstructed kitchen and laundry buildings exhibit varied features of modern architecture in terms of design.

The crematorium and the remaining parts of the gas chamber

The museum of the camp and the stories more so from the survivors of the genocide camp.

Survivor’s Path is known as a memorial walk.

Consequently, Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück Guided Tours.

To get the deeper understanding of the described cultural memory and situation, the role of which is played by the concentration camp memorials near Berlin, it is suggested to participate in guided tours. Such tours can be conducted by professional tour guides who have proper history background, anecdote, and make a focus on appropriate behavior or attitude. They can also provide any clarification that you may require all through the process.

Again, there are available guided tours in different languages, and people can make the appointment in advance. It is however necessary to check on the availability and time slot because some of the concentration camp memorials might be flooded with visitors and hence booked at certain time of the year.

Guidelines to Tourist Attractions of Concentration Camp Memorials

Plan your visit in advance: See their opening and tour availability days, hours, and schedules.

Dress well and ensure you wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking around for quite sometime.

Respect the site: Please, do not forget that most of those places are memorials and concentration camp reminders so, following all rules and restrictions.

Take your time: The tour can be highly charged emotionally so it will take some time to just sit and ponder over what has just been seen and heard.

Consider a guided tour: If you want to understand more about it and get the most out of your holiday tour, then take a guided tour.

Visiting concentration camp memorials around Berlin flies from from being a rather dour affair to one that is philosophically weighty and meaningful. It can be used as an allegory of suffering and inhumanity during World War II and the need to commemorate victims of the war. Be polite and do not forget that you are a guest so you should always be ready to listen about this matter.