Visiting a concentration camp may not be an easy decision, but it is an important one. In order to understand the atrocities of the past and ensure they are never repeated, it is crucial to bear witness to the heartbreaking realities of the Holocaust. Berlin, with its profound historical significance during World War II, offers several concentration camp memorial sites worth exploring. In this blog post, we will guide you through the why, where, and what of a Berlin Concentration Camp Tour.
The Historical Significance of Berlin
During the Nazi period, Germany capital was Berlin. Being the heart of Adolph Hitler’s rule, it turned into a site of the holocaust implementation. There were several camps within and around Berlin hence making it a good place to visit for this purpose.
Why does one go to the Concentration Camp?
When one takes time to execute a tour at a concentration camp they are bound to experience some emotions and consider some issues as well. It enables us to remember, and to honor, the millions of people who died innocent, and those who survived. We get the picture of the holocaust when we physically tour the camps, see the artifacts on display or listen to families narrate their experiences.
In addition, visiting a concentration camp is chance to think about the consequences of enmity, xenophobia and bigotry; about how they intensify if they are left uncontrolled. That is why when we learn the truth about this dark period we then become conscious participants in ensuring that such a world does not ensue again.
Which Concentration Camp Memorials Should You Go to?
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was on the border of Oranienburg town in northern Germany.
Sachsenhausen is located near Berlin and it can be described that is one of the most encompassing and preserved memorials to the concentration camp in Germany. It was in the first used to detain and imprison political enemies of the Nazi regime, though later transformed into a school to train SS officers. This visit gives a very disturbing first look at the lives of prisoners and the horrible systematic torture they received.
Ravensbrück concentration camp for women
Ravensbrück was one of the biggest concentration camp for women in Nazi Germany situated 56 miles north of Berlin. It detained the female prisoners of different provenance political dissidents, resistors, Jews and so on. Visiting Ravensbrück lets us confront the forgotten history of women during the Second World War.
Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg
Oranienburg is also home to a sub-camp named Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg of the main camp Sachsenhausen. It mainly detained Jewish people, and touring this place offers an individual look at the unique form of the extermination that Jews underwent in the territories ruled by the Nazis.
Planning Your Visit
Booking a Tour
Duing to the extremely provoking nature of these sites is advisable to join a guided tour. It is possible to explore the sites in a knowledgeable manner, the guides can answer questions, or encourage other visitors to be polite around the sites. Many tour companies in Berlin provide their visitors with such guided tours that are dedicated to the concentration camps.
Choosing the Right Time
If at all possible consider visiting the concentration camps during weekdays and during off-peak tourist seasons. This can help one avoid groups of hooligans and directors that make the experience more of a circus, controlling your time to totally submerse in the history and the ambiance of the place.
Preparing Emotionally
Remember that seeing concentration camps is not easy. Get yourself ready to face the fact that you will be exposed to insensitive and difficult information when reading this subject. Although witnessing or thinking about it can be shocking, take a break if needed, or allow your mind some time to absorb all that has just happened.
Conclusion
A Berlin Concentration Camp Tour is a chance to appreciate history, honor the victims, and be the part of positive changes for the world. You can revisit these Memorials to recall history and pay tribute to the survivors, and make your contribution toward the prevention of future experiences of genocide.
