If you are a tourist in Berlin and would love to learn more about the World War II and the holocaust you might be asking yourself that which concentration camp is nearest to Berlin or how to get there. In this blog post, I will tell you about the concentration camp near Berlin and give you useful tips on the tour.

The Konzentrationslager Sachsenhausen

The concentration camp, which is nearest to Berlin is the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp found in Oranienburg, 35 km from Berlin. Sachsenhausen was built in 1936 and was considered as an operational model of other concentration camps to come.

Visiting Sachsenhausen

Sachsenhausen is one of the best places to visit as a tourist and get to understand the ramifications of the Nazi regime. Below, we provide you with essential information to plan your visit:

Getting There

To reach Sachsenhausen from Berlin:

By train: Introduction of the industrial town, Oranienburg BERLIN Get on the S1 train in Berlin and go to Oranienburg. The travelling from one bus station to another approximates to half an hour to forty minutes. It takes around 15-20 mins of walking from Oranienburg station or there are lots of locals buses serving this route.

By guided tour: The other option is to take a group tour from Berlin to Cedron and Wörlitz Gardens. Most tour agencies sell day trips to Sachsenhausen and you are provided with a means of transport and a guide who will take you through some history and facts about the place in case you have questions to ask throughout the tour.

Opening Hours

Sachsenhausen operates – every day except for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The opening hours are as follows:

Months Opening Hours

March to October 8:30 am – 6:00 pm

November to February 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Touring the Camp

However, after getting to Sachsenhausen, you can take a self tour or you can also avail the services of a guide. Hear again the messages about the historical camp areas by downloading audios in various languages.

Some of the significant sites within Sachsenhausen include:

Appellplatz – Roll Call Square

The administration building and the building which used to house the kitchen

Station Z, where the camp’s execution had been set up

The particular building has been constructed as the museum and exhibition center

A visit to suchplaces enables tourists to appreciate how they lived, the standard of living, sufferings they went through, and other cruelties which the prisoners underwent in the camp.

Things to Keep in Mind

As for dress code, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, because mostly within the camp you will be strolling on foot.

Food and beverages are allowed in the camp premises but consuming food is prohibited in the camp in a bid to honour its history.

Make sure that you spend enough time to be able to have a first, second and even third glance at the camp. Consider at least 2-3 hours to grasp the whole picture of Sachsenhausen.

These are some general rules when coming to the camp, please do not forget to behave calmly and politely. It should remain a place of commemoration and should be accorded the respect that is due such a place.

Conclusion

The concentration camp of Sachsenhausen near Berlin is an invaluable experience that teaches a terrible part of history: the Holocaust. With this place visiting, one gets an opportunities to learn more about the past and can also offer his/her respect to the nonviolents. Make a meaningful visit to Sachsenhausen today and commit as a generation, to make future generations benefit from their memores.