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What Should You Know Before Visiting Concentration Camps in Berlin?

by | Mar 7, 2024 | Concentration Camp

Want to explore sachsenhausen concentration camp? Come and join us on the Original Berlin Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour.

Visiting concentration camps can be a truly profound and emotional experience. It provides an opportunity to learn about one of the darkest chapters in human history – the Holocaust. Berlin, as the capital of Germany during World War II, was home to several concentration camps. In this beginner’s guide, we will explore what you need to know before visiting these meaningful historical sites.

Understanding Concentration Camps

A concentration camp was a prison where Nazi actors held and mistreated different categories of individuals, but mainly Jews, during the holocaust. It threatened extreme conditions, subsequent forced working and mass killing of Jewish Gypsies and others. It is about this context that one needs to be informed to grasp the importance of the sites you are about to visit.

Choosing Which Camps to Visit

In Berlin the primary camps where Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück . One of the first to be developed was Sachsenhausen, situated in Oranienburg, some 35 kilometres outside Berlin. Ravensbrück, which is a mainly women’s camp, is around ninety kilometers north of the city. Each of the sources presents invaluable data about the history of the camps and certain crimes committed there.

Planning Your Visit

To achieve this, there is need to properly organize for the trip in advance. First of all make sure of the opening time of camps and the fee charge. Also, calculate the duration it shall take fully exploit the sites so as to make an acceptable decision. They suggest that to get the greatest benefit from the camps, one should spend at least half a day in each camp.

Tips for Guided Tours

It is advisable to attend a guided tour to get more information about the background of the camps. More experienced guides help the guests and explain something and give them helpful tips.

Since sightseeing might be available during a guided tour only during specific time, it is advisable to book it in advance, especially if you are visiting during the high season.

Many photographers have guests staying for long periods, so wear appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes as most likely, you will walk and stand.

Preparing for Your Visit

One must be emotionally ready to visit a concentration camp. This can be very demanding, and being mentally prepared will ensure you deal with this complicated process.

Mental Preparation Tips

Borrow books or DVD movies from your local library or watch documentaries on the holocaust in order to get the context.

It is also important to weigh the chances of experiencing some form of psychological upset during the visit, and possibly in light of this or in combination with it, think of how they can discuss the visit to friends or family.

In order to cater for the emotional side, try and recall your worth and your stands in life during your visit.

During Your Visit

When in the concentration camp it is important to exercise courtesy and respect the places and the individuals who perished there. It will be considered impolite to speak loudly or take photographs at some places or events.

Etiquette Tips

To guard against violation of the dignity of the deceased victims one should adhere strictly to the laid down trails and sign boards.

Do not used your cell phone or speak loudly because this will disrupt the services going on.

You can ask some questions if you have as long as you do this gently.

Reflecting After Your Visit

Nevertheless, anyone who has left a concentration camp needs to make time and sit and think about it and what he’s learnt. You can talk to people, pay your respects at symbolic places, or whether you should join activities in the fight against discrimination and for equality.

Conclusion

One can only learn and reflect when in concentration camps located within the society, especially Berlin. Knowing the historical background, proper organisation of the trip, and proper attitude towards the journey one can greatly benefit from this important experience. Just to remind you always that history could teach us good things that could lead to a better future.

Want to explore sachsenhausen concentration camp? Come and join us on the Original Berlin Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour.

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What Should You Know Before Visiting Concentration Camps in Berlin?

Mar 7, 2024