Sachsenhausen is an actual and former Nazi concentration camp located in Oranienburg, about 35 kilometers to the North of Berlin. If you have history interest specifically of WW II and Holocaust it is a must to take a guided tour of Sachsenhausen. To do this, in this blog post, I will explain what any visitor may encounter on a dedicated guided tour of Sachsenhausen, how one should prepare for this event, and why education is important in its context.

Understanding the History

It is therefore advisable for any person intending to take a guided tour of Sachsenhausen to have some basic information about it. The camp was opened in 1936 when the Nazi regime was looking for the perfect concentration camp to emulate. I used as models for other camps and soon developed into a concentration camp and an ss training camp.

Apart from that, your guide will give additional information regarding the camp, the purpose and the experience of the prisoners. You will find information on prisoner lives, measures of security and terror of the SS, daily activities within the camp.

Exploring the Site

When you are visiting Sachsenhausen you will notice that the different buildings and structures that you see have been either restored or reconstructed. Perhaps one of the most surprising things is main entrance gate with famous inscription “Arbeit Macht Frei” /Work Liberates from Captivity/.

Your guide will then take you around the camp where you will view the roll call section, the barracks, the punishment cells and even the infirmary. They will tell you the historical importance of each place and events and the prisoners that perished in the camp. The tour also will also guide you to crematorium where the plight of holocaust victims will come to the fore.

Teaching and Learning from Personal Narratives

During the tour, your guide will ensure that he or she tells you a story of a particular prisoner who was imprisoned in Sachsenhausen. These stories give an insight into the prisoners’ lives and do make the history more approachable.

With such stories being told directly you are likely to grasp the true horrors of war and the ensuing consequences as they occurred to individual lives. Well, it is one of the most effective ways to ‘touch’ history and to make sure that people who suffered – are not going to be forgotten.

Tips for Your Visit

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your guided tour experience:

Be casual, comfortable and bring some water and snacks because you will be walking for approximately three hours.

You can also take some water and snacks with you because in Chalk Mensa there is really not many places that you can find a shop.

This is a good opportunity to listen to you guide and do not hesitate to speak up. I could go there and talk to them since they know more about the site than anyone.

Remember to keep your language polite and courteous all the time you are there. Sachsenhausen is a Memorial complex and one should respect the Fields of those who suffered.

It is also important to incorporate a thinking break and chew on what is passed through to you during the tour. It’s an emotional experience so take the time to feel the history there.

Why Visit Sachsenhausen?

Sachsenhausen is not an ordinary destination to just look at the historical site, but learning and paying our respect to our dear souls that were exterminated during the holocaust. Despite its special program on keeping the memory of World War II and human rights and dignity intact, it reminds people of the holocaust.

This generally shows that taking a guided tour is a good way to learn about this part of history, face the facts and make sure that they do not reoccur again. It is a civil occasion to honor the innocent souls lost and think twice to prejudice, discrimination and power gone astray.

Conclusion

Our tour through Sachsenhausen was emotionally strong and informative one, which give an idea of the suffering of the holocaust. That is why after learning history and reading some stories, as well as after having a tour around this site, everyone can more fully appreciate the value of such a place. Do not forget to check some guidelines, pay due attention to your guide and, finally, do not neglect important information given by him. I will state here that Sachsenhausen is not a tourist attraction; it is a call to conscious participation against Discrimination as well as Massacres in the contemporary world.