Do you like history especially the World War II? Do you recall asking yourself what it used to be like to be able to tour through a concentration camp? If so, then the Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum is a must-visit place to visit for all tourist. Here in this article, you will learn what you can see in this powerful memorial and museum and help you get a closer look at the coarse and tragic history while paying respect to the martyrs.

The History of Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen was constructed in 1936 as a concentration camp by the Nazis; it is situated to the north of Berlin. It was an example of other camps and was mainly targeted at political prisoners, intellectuals and later was becoming a center of training for SS. The dark system of the camp operation was till 1945, however, there are records of over 200000 prisoners in the camp at that time.

The Memorial & Museum

During your visit at the Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum, there will be several points that you can see within the camp. Here are some of the key highlights:

The Appellplatz

The Appellplatz or assembly square was the main yard where people were assembled for count and inspection. Current it serves as the grim reminder of the camp which was once used for incarcerating people. The camp shows a vast area for accommodating people where carriage coming inside are exhibited to mimic the environment the inmates lived in.

Barracks and Facilities

At the camp you will come across reconstructed barbed-wire enclosures, barrack huts some of which have been converted to make exhibition on prison life. Look at the narrow bunks where hundreds of people were sleeping at once, see shower and toilet facilities as well, which were in fact open, and read more about people’s meals and working conditions. These exhibits provide a rather valuable information on the suffering of the people in captivity in Sachsenhausen.

Medical Facilities

Sachsenhausen also had its individual infirmary and laboratory departments; at the laboratory, the prisoners were experimented on. Currently, people can tour these sites and get acquainted with the drama and psychopathic views of the Nazis experiments. This section plays rather as a focus on how the supposedly subhuman beings were treated by Germans, the Nazis.

The Execution Trench

There are several sections in the memorial, but the most sacred one is the execution trench. These sites were reserved for shooting actions mainly in the form of shooting masses. Today it has a memorial stone put as a sign of war to happen and to the many lives that were lost during this particular era.

Self-Guided Tours, Field Trips & Classroom Connection

If you have not received enough information about Sachsenhausen’s history and importance you can take a guided tour/ educational programme. The knowledgeable guides will explain the camps and give out the account of the operations of the camp and tell you personal experiences of some prisoners. These tours are quite informative and by their nature; they ensure that you get a grasp of the extend of the horror that happened in sachsenhausen.

Called to Remember: the Victims and Respect

In visiting the Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum there is more to it than learning history – it is about paying your respect. In order to fully experience the history as it surrounded the prisoners, there are multiple memorials and plaques put throughout the site. If you are so inclined as a reader, I kindly ask that you spend some time meditating, to mourn with those that were hurt and lost through the horrors of this dark period in humanity.

Plan Your Visit

If you’re planning a visit to the Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum, here are a few essential details to help you make the most of your experience:

• Location: It is situated in Oranienburg, in a nearby town, approximately 35 km to the north from Berlin.
• Opening Hours: The memorial is located open whole year. Check with their website for operational hours because these change with the specific season.
• Admission: The Cemetery is open to the public and there are no charges – however small donations are encouraged to go towards the upkeep of the monument.
• Getting There: Sachsenhausen is reachable by train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof station to Oranienburg. After that, it is just about five minutes of walk to the memorial.

Conclusion

The Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum are informative and moving when offering information about the Nazi concentration camp system. This site will provide you with a better understanding of the suffering that took place during the Second World War and help to honor those who died. Sachsenhausen, showing historical allowances, included guided tours and various monuments, constitutes one of the most powerful visits for everyone willing to get acquainted with this grim epoch of human history. Organize your visit, get lost in history and make sure people don’t forget it.