If you’re interested in World War II history or planning a visit to Berlin, you may have come across information about concentration camps. However, it’s important to clarify that there is no concentration camp within the city limits of Berlin. Here’s what you need to know:

History of Concentration Camps in Germany

In the period of the Second World War the Nazi government built several concentration camps in the territory of Germany and in Europe. These camps were employed to incarcerate, intimidate, and exterminate score of innocent people by all means possible.

The actual city of Berlin was not big on a concentration camp, although these were at least hundreds in Europe during this time. Auschwitz, Dachau and Buchenwald among other concentration camps were situated outside the city.

The concentration camp memorial sites around Berlin

While there are no concentration camp situated in Berlin the important memorial and former concentration camp is located nearby. These sites are useful because they represent the events of the holocaust and contain reflective and educational platforms. Here are a few notable examples:

Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen is located at Orania-burg, suburb of Berlin, and was one if not the first concentration camp to be set up in Nazi Germany. Today, It is a memorial and museum. There are many preserved buildings, which include permanent and temporary exhibitions; the place also provides information regarding the camp.

Women’s Concentration Camp, Ravensbrück

Situated on the outskirts of a village at about ninety kilometers from Berlin, Ravensbrück was a camp for women, mostly. At the memorial there are also a museum, information boards, and busts, reconstructions of barracks for women in the camp.

Buchenwald Concentration Camp

Located in the state of Thuringia, some 180 miles southwest of Berlin, Buchenwald was one of the largest concentration camps within Germany. The memorial site has artists’ exhibitions, guiding services and a museum that offers information on the events of the camp.

Journeying through the Holocaust Memorials and Concentration Camps

For people willing to see memorials or former concentration camps in and near Berlin it is advisable to plan their visit beforehand. Here are a few tips to make the most of your visit:

Find out the working hours and charge for each memorial or camp.

Visiting this site requires coming with a guided tour since you will be exposed to a rich history of the area.

Do not violate the sanctity of these sites. Avoid loud talking, dressing appropriately and don’t cause disturbance or interrupt others.

It is going to be an emotionally demanding situation. It is crucial to bear in mind that articles of this kind are intended to educate and remember victims of the Holocaust.

Included here is a general guideline on how to use the opportunity to read about the stories of Holocaust survivors and increase one’s understanding of the scale of the Holocaust tragedy.

Conclusion

Although there is no registered concentration camp in Berlin, there are quite a lot of memorial sites and the camps within the vicinity of Berlin. People can certainly pay a respect to the victims and gain a disturbing, yet quite necessary, perception of the world’s history. Always please respect and emotionally support these memorials as they count the losses of human lives and work towards ensuring that such an event does not occur in the future again.