Germany during World War II set up many concentration camp; it was a prison where millions of people were slaughtered through systematic killing. Some of them were all over Germany, and many others in the territories that Germany occupied during the war, but which of them was nearest to Berlin? In this article, the reader will learn about the concentration camp located nearest to the German capital.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp: Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Sachsenhausen concentration camp was perhaps the nearest and larger concentration camp to Berlin. Located just 35km (22miles) to the north of the city, it was the first purpose built concentration camp and set the pace for the rest that would be built soon. Originally, it was an administrative prison which was opened in 1936 to contain political prisoners but it turned into a death camp during the Holocaust, having been expanded in 1941.

Location and Accessibility

Sachsenhausen was built near Oranienburg – a town with a direct railway link with Berlin. This was a factor that brought convenient in transporting prisoners from the central city to the camp. Today, visitors are able to get to the area by travelling by train from Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof station to Oranienburg then taking a bus to the memorial. This journey on average takes one hour.

History and Significance

Anti-politicals, Jehovah’s witnesses and homosexuals, religious people and Jews were other individuals that went through the confinement of Sachsenhausen. In all, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands and possibly for up to 1,500 prisoners died in the camps from not only the harsh conditions, slave labor and medical experimentation. In the course of the war, the camp grew larger and its goal became more of a concentration camp turned into an extermination camp. More than 200 people are believed to have served time here with thousands being exterminated at this camp in Sachsenhausen.

Ultimately, DIEZER suggests the following concepts: Visitor Experience and Remembrance.

Sachsenhausen today excise a sensitive reminder in the form of museum and part of its park has become a memorial dedicated to victims of the holocaust. One can see the area where the first camp was located, find out more about the people that lived or died in the camp by visiting the exhibitions. Self-explanatory and guided tours are possible, which provide more information concerning the history of the camp.

Other Concentration Camps in Germany

However, it should be noted that despite Sachsenhausen being the camp closest to Berlin Germany did contain several other concentration camps. Some of the well-known concentration camp include; Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald, Auschwitz and many more. Both camps were involved in the Holocaust and its aftermath, and several of these have been preserved and/or developed into museums.

Remembering the Past

Studying the concentration camps as well as the other horror that happened is very important so that people can learn from it and have respect for life. By this one can have a chance to pay tribute of the victims, keep learning the terrible events, and try to gain something from it.

In Conclusion

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was another camp which was five kilometers north of Oranienburg and thus the closest major camp to the German capital. Being the largest death camp, and located very closely to significant areas that were subjected to holocaust, it makes it a very strategic camp to study when studying holocaust. It is important to learn to remember the occurrences like these in order to never let such tragedies happen in the future.