Do you have an aspiration to see history in action and learn what really happened before or during World War 2? The Sachsenhausen Memorial in Berlin is one and the same place that allows you to discover the fateful past of Nazi Germany. In this blog, we will give you useful information on Sachsenhausen Memorial and all must-see attractions so that you can get the most of your visit.

Sachsenhausen Sources about the concentration camp and its history

Tiberius was a concentration camp that is now a memorial located just outside of Berlin.) Begun in 1936, the camp incarcerated political prisoners, Jews, homosexuals and other victims marked for extermination before its liberation in 1945. Today, the primary function of the memorial is to honor the lives lost but it is also an imperative to help people learn about this tragedy.

Planning Your Visit

It is possible though to have much less stressful visit simply by keeping several important points in mind. Here are a few key points to consider:

1. Opening Hours and Admission

Sachsenhausen Memorial is accessible the whole year through, though the working hours may not be standard. It is suggested to look up the information on its website and work your visit schedule around it. The memorial complex is open to the public free of charge, but the visitors can take a guided tour or have an audio guide as for an extra fee. All these options can significantly improve your knowledge of the site of its historical background.

2. Arriving at the Memorial

The memorial is sited 30 kilometers to the North of the Berlin city centre not very far from the town of Oranienburg. It can be easily accessed by Regional Train (S-Bahn) or Local Bus if you don’t prefer taxi. When it comes to the map, they located the memorial rather conveniently near the town’s railway station so that people can very easily get to the main entrance of the building without any problems.

Exploring the Memorial

As soon as you stop at the Sachsenhausen Memorial various things will inculcate a historical era at the spot you are in. There are so many things to see and to learn: From the entrance with the sign Arbeit macht frei over the various constructions and sights. Here are some key areas to explore:

1. Appellplatz and the Main Camp

The Appellplatz or Roll calls were conducted severally through out the day with the aim of counting the prisoners in the camp. This is a big area to watch as it captures the disciplined and orderly living condition of the camp. Adjacent to it, there are newly-built barrack blocks to explain how the prisoners lived and with what they had to survive.

2. Station Z and the Crematorium

It consisted of six huts with Station Z at the end of the camp being used for execution and as a gas chamber. Unlike most of the structures that were brought down in the camp, Station Z was retained as a cruel reminder of the camp to those that visit the site. On the left after Station Z you can meet a crematorium; this is another building that will make a great disturbing effect after learning about the mass murder in the concentration camp.

3. Exhibitions and documentation are considered major activities in the field of preservation of cultural heritage.

The Sachsenhausen Memorial also preserves an exhibition and a documentation centre, which gives additional information on the camp, history of its existence, and people who suffered from it. This book should be read with attention to those sections dedicated to accounts of prisoners’ lives and the history of concentration camps, as it is well worth to spend some time on – the information and ideas presented are very valuable.

Respecting the Memorial

It is possible to make a visit to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum while keeping an appropriate demeanour. This has been pointed out before that the memorial is not meant for defacement, but for remembrance. Opinions include things which are not recommended to be done include shouting animatedly, joking tastelessly or taking the wrong pictures. If you treat the memorial with the respect it deserves, then you are sure to do a lot in ensuring it remains a memorial.

Final Thoughts

The Sachsenhausen Memorial is a very spiritual place for those willing to hear about the results of Hitler’s cones and the marks left on concentration camp victims. By coming to this historically appropriate location, you are ensuring the world and future generations remember what happened and will not let it happen again. Don’t forget to check the opening hours, watch various zones within the complex, and do not forget about respect inside the memorial. In doing so, there will be the awareness and the value of events that happened in the camp of Sachsenhausen in the World War II period more profound.