Germany can be considered important in history because the concentration camps were established by Germans during the second World War. Nevertheless, such camps offer only a representation of ordeal and sorrow which in addition denotes the need of history and its teaching in order not to repeat similar events. If you are visiting Berlin and interested in exploring this dark chapter, here are some concentration camps you can visit near the city:

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camps

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is located 35 kilometres north of Berlin and the camp is easy to visit from the capital. It was one of the first and by far the biggest concentration camps created by the Nazis in 1936. Currently, visitors can only come to be inspired at the site, which physically is now a memorial and museum commemorating the memory of the holocaust victims.

To get feel of the actual conditions of the camp when visiting, one can see the actual buildings that was constructed by the prisoners which include the barracks, punishment cells and passage through the “Arbeit Macht Frei “Gate. _regular guided tours are offered to give tourist closer and more elaborate look to the prison life of prisoners, the architectural design of the camp as well as the holocaust._

Ravensbrück was a Nazi German concentration camp for women, located around the town of Ravensbrück, to the north of Berlin.

Ravensbrück Concentration Camp was a concentration camp for women in the Nazi era situated 100 kilometres north of Berlin. It was established in 1939 and was closed in 1945 and detained more than 130000 women, children and men.

Walking through Ravensbrück one can not only gain the knowledge of suffering and strength of women who were through so much suffering. The long-term application that focuses on the camp traces its history and displays information on the abuse of human rights and parliamentarians who were imprisoned there. For this reason, it also offers an entrance to honor all the people who died during this dark period in the history of humanity.

Buchenwald Concentration Camp

Located in the scenic Thuringian Forest, though a little away from Berlin, there is another important place you could mark – Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Created in 1937, for political prisoners, Jews and other individuals which were not desirable for the Nazi regime.

At present, it is the camp turned into a place that can be visited on a guided tour learning the history it has. People can go to the museum and see the presents that tell about the everyday life of the gaters, medical experiments and the fighting against them, the liberation.

Planning Your Visit

When planning your visit to these concentration camps, consider the following:

Timing

Do not rush the visits as looking at sculptures, art and learning all there is to learn about the castles and historical landmarks takes time. If you are going for a camp, try to spend minimum one full day in each of the camp to enjoy to the core.

Guided Tours

Don’t forget, it might also be helpful to take the guided tour in order to get the most out of your visit. They offer elaborated information, help with questions, and make sure you do not overlook some parts. The use of an audio guide is that they’re generally available and provided in different languages.

Emotional Impact

Seeing some concrete camp would be rather disturbing. Please ensure you are set up physically, mentally and emotionally before you come to make your visit. This means you should be able to take breaks when you feel like maybe you cannot handle anything anymore and also you should seek assistance from other visitors, friends or even members of your family.

Respectful Behavior

Please bear in mind that these sites are created to pay tribute to the victims of attacks. Always respect whoever you are attending to while on the visit. Loud talking and whispering should be discouraged, photography should be carried out only in agreed points and visitors should dress well so that they can reflect the dignity that comes with the area.

Further Education

Going to concentrations camps is a move to coming to terms with history but it is not enough. In order to still develop an understanding about other aspects of history additional steps could be taken, those could include continuation of education through books, documentaries or other related historical sites.

In Conclusion

It can be painful to be confronted with preoccupations of concentration camps, yet, it is a rewarding way to respect the victims, open up our society’s eyes, and become better as a society. During a two-week trip to Germany with my students, we visited Sachsenhausen, Ravensbrück, and Buchenwald concentration camps near Berlin that create educational, memorial, and contemplative experiences. They should visit by appointment so that they are reminded that they are in a solemn place and take their time to understand how grave those events were in those places.