Do you have any idea what you’re going to see if you decide to go to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum? Well, don’t you worry we’re got you covered for that. In this blog post, we will introduce you to the most important details of the tour, which means that you will receive all the necessary information that may interest an absolute beginner. Let’s get started!

General information about Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum

Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum is a memorial in Northern Berlin / Oranienburg in Germany. The small state was founded in 1961 to commemorate individuals exterminated in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. Through this site, visitors can learn more on the things that happened in that era and it also honors the victims.

Getting There

The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum is in Oranienburg, some 22 miles north of Berlin. If you want to visit the memorial you can take a S-Bahn to Oranienburg starting from the Hauptbahnhof in Berlin; the trip is approximately 30 minutes. From there one can walk or take bus to the entrance of the memorial.

Tour Options

As soon as you get to the site there are two choices you can make; go round the place on your own or be given a guided tour. A guided tour is also advisable as the guide tells about the important points of interest during the visit.

There are many possibilities of guided tours offered in many languages and they take approximately 3 hours. They encompass most aspects of the memorial, and include the roll call square, prisoner barracks, punishment cells, and the execution area. The guides then proceed to list the importance of every location where the prisoners had lived, the stories they had kept and the mundane tasks they had been subjected to every day.

Important Areas to Explore

Roll Call Square

The prisoners’ meeting point was the roll-call square. Here they made formations for roll calls, exposures to extreme weather conditions and rugged physical exercises. The guide will tell a story of life in this prison and explain what kind of punishment prisoners received if they are misconduct.

Prisoner Barracks

The prisoner barracks were where the inmates slept stacked on top of each other in really tiny spaces. A visit to these barracks will give you a feel of how the prisoners spent most of their time in the compounds. Most of these have been turned into exhibitions showcasing pictures, items and tales of the prisoners.

Punishment Cells

The punishment cells were used as a way of dealing several prisoners in an authoritative way with an aim of deterring the rest one. They were small black holes where the inmates were locked up for days, sometimes a week, with no provisions for washing. These cells have made them remember how brutal the camp actually was.

Execution Site

Execution site is the designated location of the memorial comprising of a package zone where thousands of prisoners were executed. It is helpful to understand how people suffered during this grotesque period in the history. This guide will also include a brief history of the area and include information on people that died in this area.

Tips for Visitors

Bring clothes and shoes suitable for walking, as this walking tour does take about an hour.

Bring some water or snacks as there are no many stores inside this memorial.

Do not make loud noises or do anything that may make people at the scene uncomfortable in any way, this place is sacred.

It is suggested to wear decent clothing and take an umbrella or sunglasses according to the prevailing weather conditions.

Slow down throughout the tour and listen to the information that is being given alongside the stories told. It can take a toll on the emotions, so don’t think that rushing through it is the right approach.

Conclusion

It can be an inspiring plan, yet a visit to the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum can be inspiring as well as truly educational. During the guided tours and provincial tours that allow visitors into key zones, they are able to learn more about the genocide that occurred during the Second World War. When visiting, it is important in this case exercise courtesy and take some moments to think about the information that will be provided. This forms a good basis why education and remembering of the past events should stage, in avoiding similar to these events in future.