Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is a very important as far as the Second World War and the holocaust is concerned. This period, many concentration camps were opened to prisoners in Germany and the occupied countries as well. In this article, the author shall consider the concentration camps around Berlin, Germany and their importance in the event that occurred during the period.

Concentration Camps in Berlin

Although there was no large concentration camps in Berlin, but as a capital of the country it became one of the main centers of the deportation of prisoners to concentration camps in Germany and the occupied countries of Eastern Europe. However there were other concentration camps and forced labor camps within or in the vicinity of Berlin.

Sachsenhausen concentration camp

Sachsenhausen is one of the best known camps near Berlin. About 35 Km to the north of the city, it was started in 1936 as one of the first concentration camps in Germany. Initially, the camp was designed to incarcerate and, if necessary, eliminate political foes inconvenient for Hitler; the ‘utility’ of the camp was enlarged to include other groups of people that the Nazis considered unnecessary or subversive.

Aktualnie Sachsenhausen służył jako obozowisko doświadczalne, ponieważ miało sformułować i opisać strukturę obozu dla późniejszych obozów. They had to work when they were not starved to death or used for medical experiments in concentration camp. Nowadays, Sachsenhausen is one of the concentration camp and memorial museums that offers people to come in and understand the consequences of such acts as holocaust.

Ravensbrück Concentration camp

Ravensbrück is about 90 km from Berlin, and it was the largest women concentration camp during the second world war. It was a prison solely and mainly consisted of female inmates and dissidents against the Nazis and socially undesirable individuals. The camp was also accommodating women of other nationalities from different countries across Europe.

This historical camp when reminded of Ravensbrück gives groups of people an insightful view of what the Nazi regime was capable of doing differently in perusing its objectives, mainly targeting female inmates. On site there is a memorial that helps to get acquainted with the history of the camp and victims who suffered a lot during their captivity.

While on a Tourist website visiting the concentration camps

When making a trip to the concentration camps, it is important to be receptive, socially sensitive and interested in the information as well as facts you’d come across. Here are a few tips to ensure a meaningful visit:

Dress appropriately by putting on the right dress code and right shoes for a walking tour- shoes for hikes or for the outdoors.

Ensure you take enough time to make rounds in the area, read the information boards and just take in the environment.

Special thanks for the tip to Georgina; I would recommend joining a guided tour or hiring an audio guide to understand more about the camps.

It is up for a very emotional ride so be ready for that. Concentration camps gave painful memories and it’s important to feel such emotions in a positive way.

It is recommended that before going for the journey check with the current visitor information in the official websites of the respective concentration camps.

Confused about What it Means

There are many concentration camps around but those near Berlin give a vivid account of the holocaust. Understanding the history and position of concentration camps, and the fates of the people that suffered within them, shows how a world, with no prejudice, must be valued most.

Because of these concentration camps’ locations, Berlin can be said to present tourists with an actual primary experience into history. Their visits obviously make such places culturally significant, allowing individuals to become devoted to creating a better world accepting of the strangers and showing more compassion towards them.

In Conclusion

Visiting the concentration camps situated in the neighbourhoods in and around Berlin is one of the most important tasks. Thus, we accept the before and prevent people from forgetting the pain that was experienced during that time. Studying the Holocaust is one of the ways of is a way of teaching individuals the repercussions of discrimination and prejudice, and the abuse of authority. Education and when necessary, reminding ourselves and others could help reduce such acts on humanity in future.