The Sachsenhausen KZ, also known as the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, holds an important place in history due to its significant role during World War II. In this blog post, we will delve into the subject matter and explore the historical significance of Sachsenhausen KZ in Berlin.

The Origins of Sachsenhausen KZ

The Sachsenhausen was a concentration camp created by the Nazi government in 1936. Just beyond the city limits of Berlin it was used as one of the first concentration camps and acted as a template for the numerous other camps that were established.

At first, the Sachsenhausen was built as a camp for political prisoner but most of its detainees were members of the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party. In time, the camp evolved in serving similar purpose for other groups of people including the Jews, the homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the asocials.

Life in Sachsenhausen KZ

Sachsenhausen KZ was filled with much suffering and a generally tough living situation. The prisoners were enslaved, tortured and beaten almost on a daily basis by their captors, the SS. The elements of authority pretty much dictated that the prisoners would be made always to feel their scaled status at the camp.

The Sachsenhausen was used throughout its existence; thousands of inmates died at the camp because of starvation, disease, shootings and euthanasia experiments conducted by the Nazis. The conditions under which all the prisoners were held in the camp depended on the genocidal and despotic policies of the Nazi government.

The Death Marches

When the World Second War was approaching its end and the Allies were at the doorsteps, the Nazis started to evacuate prisoners from Sachsenhausen and other camps. These forced marches also known as the Death Marches were in attempt to stop the emancipation of the occupants.

The prisoners were subjected to extremely long walking trips despite inadequate diet while the weather was inclement. They would die from fatigue, or get shot if they were too slow. Many people died during such marches, and those who could survive had numerous physical and psychological damages.

Remembering the Victims

Modern visitors to Sachsenhausen can view this former concentration camp as a memorial, and a museum, with the hope of preserving memories of the tragedies that were associated with it. The preserved plans and structures, non-moving objects and records at the sites offer a poignant recall of acts of genocide recorded in the second world war.

Sachsenhausen Memorial is rather saddening, but informative place to visit and get teh feeling of what the people have been through during the war. It enables people to offer their condolences toward the killed victims and get an idea of what the holocaust was all about.

Guidelines for Touring Sachsenhausen Memorial

If you plan to visit the Sachsenhausen Memorial, here are a few tips to enhance your experience:

This site is extensive; therefore, plan enough time to move from one end to the other because it will take you quite a while.

It would probably be wise to take a group trip to make more sense just out of what the site represents and stands for.

Dress properly and mandatorily wear shoes because there could still be some walking involved at some locations.

Do not be loud and careless in the memorial and pay respect to other visitors present there.

Conclusion

Sachsenhausen was concentration camp in Oranienburg near Berlin, Germany, that served the extermination and authoritarian goal of the Nazis during World War II. By learning about the background and Sachsenhausen’s history as well as the visit to the memorial itself, one can get a glimmer into the experiences of the holocaust as well as make sure that everyone remembers what happened.