Visiting historical sites such as the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is an important way to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and learn from the past. If you’re planning a tour to Sachsenhausen, one of the most accessible and well-preserved former concentration camps near Berlin, this guide will provide you with all the information you need.

1. Understanding Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp

Like all concentration camps, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was set up in 1936 and became a model for other similar camps controlled by the Nazis. Originally it was an auxiliary camp for the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, in Oranienburg, some 35 km north of Berlin It was mainly a forced-labor camp but also held political prisoners, Soviet POWs and others. Sachsenhausen held more than 200,000 prisoners with tens of thousands of them dying.

2. Getting There

The S-Bahn from Berlin gets the visitor closest up to Sachsenhausen and from Oranienburg one takes a bus to the camp. Local transportation is also very good and within 45 minutes a train is available from Berlin to Oranienburg. If you make it to Oranienburg, you should take the 804 bus to get to the entrance of the camp.

3. Entrance and Guided Tours

Sachsenhausen is well organized and once you get to the camp, you can visit the information center to buy your ticket. It is advised to take a guided tour because they help to explain interesting details and to give you a deeper perception of the existence of the camp. The guides are informative and enthusiastic about what they talk about which makes the history more interesting. This post also describes audio guides if you want to go through the sights on your own.

4. Must-See Attractions

While the entire camp is significant, there are a few key attractions you shouldn’t miss:

The Appellplatz

This was the roll call square where the prisoners would congregate at least three times a day. It is suffices to say that the site is highly valuable for learning about the schedule of activities and struggles faced by inmates.

The Tower A

Tower A was at the entrance and was utilized as the check point and Check point duty of the camp. Some features are specially designed watchtower, barbed wires and especially the sign over the entrance “Arbeit Macht Frei” meaning “Work Sets You Free” which are enough to give you an indication of what the camp was all about.

The Barracks

Some of the barracks have been converted into museums where visitors can see exhibits detailing camp life, and the suffering of the gypsies, and lesbians and gays, and of course, the Jewish people during the holocaust.

The Crematorium

A visit to a crematorium is so touching but you have to do it in order to appreciate the extent of the suffering that went on in the camp. The bath, and the furnaces represent a memory of millions of killed during this period in human history.

5. Etiquette and Respect

It is therefore important to remain demure when in Sachsenhausen. Here are some guidelines to follow:

Stay dressed as it is a place where one has to pay respect hence dress appropriately.

Do not make too much noise or act foolish in public.

People are allowed to take photographs but people should refrain from taking many selfies or smiling pictures in the dangerous areas.

It is strictly forbidden to touch or carry away anything, or otherwise alter the state of the site.

6. Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips to help you make the most of your visit:

If you are a shoe lover you will prefer walking shoes because most of the time will be spent on walking.

Remember, there is no water, food or other supplies at the camp so it is advised to take water and some food with you.

You do not want to rush through your trip and find that you have not spent adequate time at each location.

It might be best to visit during weekdays if you don’t like huge crowds.

Conclusion

Tour to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is informative, touching and an unforgettable journey. It has a bitter-sweet taste of both the major sin which befell the Jewish population and the ability of the Jewish people to rise from the ashes. Good thing’s we have a way of learning from the past to prevent failure of committing similar atrocities like stated above. Here, it pays to do a bit of research so as to know when and how best to go about visiting this place.