Germany being a country with a rich history the main motivation of many guests is to explore some historical places to learn and to honor. It does not attempt to tell a dark history of Germany in full detail, but one of the most well-known stories is that of the concentration camps during World War II. In this blog post, some of the current concentration camps in Berlin, accessible to tourists, will be described as well as the brief history of each camp.

Sachsenhausen Strassullo Concentration Camp

Sachsenhausen is located only 35 km north of Berlin that places it among the easiest camps to get to from Berlin. It was set up for the Nazis in 1936 and from there many more other similar camps were built in the future years.

There are buildings that remain intact to this day and offer a shocking view of what life at Sachsenhausen was like allowing visitors to walk through the prisoner barracks, the commandant’s house as well as the punishment Cells. The site also contains a number of exhibits which explore a number of topics on the history of the camp, the experiences of survivors and the wider system of concentration camps under the Nazis.

Men and women were escorted to join the prisoners in the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp.

Ravensbrück is located about 70 miles north of Berlin and again, principally for women. During World War II it served as one of the largest camps for holding female prisoners; it was created in 1939.

Now, a brick barracks and the crematorium can be seen in the place, and the reconstructed buildings that once held prisoners. There is also a museum on the territory of the camp that provides rather rich information on the history of the camp along with the history of the women who were placed there, information on the attempts of resistance and survival.

Buchenwald Concentration Camp

If you are ready for a slightly longer trip, driving around 280 kilometers south westwards from Berlin you will uncover Buchenwald, one of the world’s first and longest running concentration camp.

In Buchenwald today, the public is free to walk around the extensive area that the concentration camp occupied. The memorial contains barracks singled out and rebuilt, the crematorium and other monuments to the victims. There is an exhibition and information as well as genuine artifacts that explain to the visitors the existence, hardships and rebelliousness of the people who were detained here.

Dachau Concentration Camp

While it is technically outside the Berlin area, Dachau located almost 530 kilometers south of Berlin, is also one of the relevant sites to consider with this list. it was initially used in training the SS staffs who worked in several other concentration camps in Germany.

Tourists coming to Dachau can get to see the living quarters of the prisoners, the gas chambers and the bath house, and the offices. There are shocking exhibits detailing the past history of the camp, and stories of prisoners and their liberation.

Planning Your Visit

Each of these concentration camps should be visited when there is ample time to make a visit to one camp and indulge in the historical value of the place or places and or learn more and pay tribute to the victims of the Nazi regime. Ideally one should allocate ½ a day per visit.

Moreover, it is required to visit the official websites of each of the concentration camps before visiting because various camps had different opening hours, tours, and some areas being restricted. Other camps may have to be pre-booked especially during the early months of the year when most travelers begin to visit.

In Conclusion

It is rather instructive to be able to tour the concentration camps near Berlin and we are made to remember the victims of the holocaust as well as having to learn lessons for the future. Some of the dreadful locations which make Germany a silent museum include Sachsenhausen, Ravensbrück, Buchenwald, and Dachau. Thus, if one pays a visit to these camps, they will be able to comprehend the degree of the atrocities committed during World War II, and, thus – make sure that people will neverforget it.

Sorry for going around in circles, but remember – these visits are to be made with sensitivity and respect alone. These sites symbolize the pain of so many people and their narratives should be distributed honestly and with dignity.