If you are a tourist in Berlin and would love to learn more about World War II and the holocaust, you might be asking yourself 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.
About Sachsenhausen: Closest Concentration Camp to Berlin
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 Concentration Camp Near Berlin
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:
How to Get to Sachsenhausen, the Closest Concentration Camp to Berlin
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 takes approximately to half an hour to forty minutes. It takes around 15-20 mins of walking from Oranienburg station or there are lots of local 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.
Sachsenhausen Opening Hours for Visitors
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 Sachsenhausen: How to Explore the Camp
However, after getting to Sachsenhausen, you can take a self tour, or you can also avail the services of a guide. Hear the messages about the historical camp areas by downloading audios in various languages.
Key Sites to See at Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
Appellplatz – Roll Call Square
- The administration building and the building that used to house the kitchen
- Station Z, where the camp’s execution had been set up
- The particular building has been constructed as a museum and exhibition center
A visit to such places enables tourists to appreciate how they lived, the standard of living, the 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 walking 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. Allow 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 to such a place.
Final Thoughts
The concentration camp of Sachsenhausen near Berlin is an invaluable experience that teaches a terrible part of history: the Holocaust. With this place visit, one gets an opportunity 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 memories.
