Exploring Concentration Camps Near Berlin
That there are concentration camps near Berlin is shocking and sad even when one hears it for the first time. Concentration camps were camps which the Nazi government in Germany established during the Second World War in order to detain, torture and kill millions. It is extremely inspiring to remember the places associated with such a tragic history and the result of fascism.
In this post, let’s discuss several of the concentration camps that you can visit around Berlin. We will also talk about how to get to these sites and what one can expect to observe and gain knowledge of when at the sites in question.
Why Tour Concentration Camps: A Guide to 4 Such Camps near Berlin?
Est visits the concentration camps near Berlin can be an incredible, sobering event. Thus, it is an opportunity to extend knowledge of the grim farce of the Holocaust and the afflicted population in minds of the Nazis. Not only will it enable you understand the need and value of those fallen in the fight but also to remind yourself of the freedom that you have and the need to fight for human rights.
It is also important to visit concentration camps around Berlin in order to pay tribute the victims of holocaust and to prevent such actions in the future. It’s a sad lesson about the consequences of hatred and prejudice; the act of genocide.
Some of the famous Concentration Camps were close to Berlin namely;
Among the most well-known concentration camps in the Berlin region is listed below. Here are some of the most significant ones:
Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen is one of the concentration camps that was established at Germany in 1936. Situated some 35kilometers from Berlin, it served as an example of other nazi concentration camps that were later built. About 200,000 citizens were deported to Sachsenhausen and members of Jewish community, political opponents, Romani people, homosexual perverts and the physically and mentally disabled people were among them. However, today the camp has become more like a museum zone, where there are special museums, monuments and exhibits that demonstrate the tragedy occurred there.
Ravensbrück
Ravensbrück was created as a concentration camp for women and was situated 80 kms north of Berlin. It is believed that, 132000 women were transferred to Ravensbrück among them were Jews, political prisoners and the Romani people. Most of them had been slave-dogs, experimented on, sexually exploited, and exposed to other degradations. Nowadays it is the place of a museum and demonstration of the fate of female prisoners during World War II.
Bergen-Belsen
Belsen is one of the concentration camp located about 80kilometre northeast of Berlin. Originally built for holding non-Jewish detainees, more than fifty thousand Jewish did end up detained here as well. By the 1945, the camp had was so congested that the conditions were that bad that people called the place a “human slaughterhouse”. The camp became free in 1945 thanks to the forces of the British troops; it is a place providing monuments, museums, and exhibits that would describe freedom throughout the camp’s history.
Mapping of Concentration Camps around Berlin and what one will find there.
It should also be noted that when walking around camps near Berlin, one should get ready for intense emotion. The sites are often filled with powerful reminders of the atrocities that took place there: tombs, gravestones and installations that conveys history of suffered people during the World War II. You might also experience momentary torrents of despair as you watch all that is going on and being said.
This also however calls for courtesy each time one intends to visit these places. Make sure to read all the information provided and remember than many people might be visiting the same place as you.
Conclusion
Jewish people visiting concentration camps that are located in or nearby to Berlin can be really quite moving. It’s a unique opportunity to learn more about the tragedy of the Holocaust and, therefore, to honor the memory of the people, who were suffered from the Nazis. Those that plan to visit these sites should ensure that they act properly and also spare adequate time to go through all the information provided.
The remains of those who were killed during the Holocaust and these sites can; therefore, be visited to keep the memories of the deceased fresh as the world seeks justice.
