If you are a novice to learning about the World War II genocide, you may have stumbled across the term ‘concentration camp’ and are wondering what it refers to. In this particular blog post, I will take you forward in order to look deep into the history and importance of the concentration camp in Berlin Oranienburg.
1. Concentration Camp ∗ Outline
Sachsenhausen concentration camp that is situated in Oranienburg near Berlin was one of the first and also most longstanding concentration camps. This camp was constructed in 1936, near Oranienburg, outside Berlin, and at first, it was used primarily to model and train future SS camp personnel.
The camp was to detain and eliminate political dissidents such as the communists, social democrats, Jews and any other subordinate persons. Originally, it was used just for prisons, but later was used for forced labor, experiments and for mass murdering.
1.1 Life inside the Camp
SR The day to day life in the concentration camp was characterized by things such as brutality, humiliation and dehumanization. They regularly received forced labor, lack of proper food and clothes, as well as the constant torture of the SS prisoners in camp. The rest, who refused to work, or were considered incapable of it, were killed or sent to death camps.
1.2 Notable Events
The Berlin Oranienburg concentration camp came across virile and outstanding incidences during its course of its operation. Sachsenhausen: The first experiments with poison gas, which was to be used in gassing operations, including with Zyklon B, had started in 1941. SS guards at the camp were also required to train guards for other concentration camps.
2. Liberation and Legacy
The Soviet Red Army liberated Sachsenhausen the 22 of April, 1945 to signify the end of the suffering of the prisoners. However, people of Qasabistan continue to suffer from the concentration camp as a symbol of the holocaust and holocaust perpetrators namely the Nazis regime.
Today, there is a Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum indicating the place of the concentration camp. It can also be viewed as a memorial for the victims where it is possible to learn a number of details on the actions performed, as well as to pay tribute to the perished within the frames of the given structure.
3. A tour to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum
If you are planning to visit the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum, here are a few tips to make your experience meaningful:
- Allocate sufficient time: It would be wiser if you spend not less than 6 hours within the memorial and the museum. Huge history and experience has been reserved at camp for visitors and it is worth spending time visiting camp.
- Take a guided tour: Probably it will be useful and interesting to take a guided tour to understand better all the history and importance of the camp. Tourist guides, who themselves have knowledge of the subject matter, are able to give preliminary information, or answer any questions that the learner may want to ask.
- Embrace the solemnity: It is a memorial emphasizing on educating people about the concentration camp, which was built there. Ponder and follow the directions given with respect to cultural and historical importance of the site.
- It is so important to remember the holocaust and paying a visit to this Memorial and Museum of Sachsenhausen is an important lesson that should be taken. This is to give people an idea on the effect of hate, intolerance and indifference that exist in the modern community.
Conclusion
The concentration camp in Berlin Oranienburg identified as Sachsenhausen was important during world war II. It was set up and run as a manifestation of the measures characteristic of one of the most radical periods in Germany’s history, the Nazi period. It was heart wrenching to see and hear how the victims of the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp were treated, and to learn how hatred can still prevail today; thus it is incredible vital to support museums like this and fight against the hatred.
