When planning a trip to Berlin, there are countless historical sites to explore. One aspect of Berlin’s history that should not be missed is the opportunity to visit concentration camp (KZ) memorials. Discovering the history of these sites provides a valuable insight into the darkest chapter of human history. In this blog post, we will explain why you should consider adding a KZ memorial visit to your itinerary and provide some useful tips for your visit.
Understanding the Importance of KZ Memorials
The aim of having concentration camps was one of the ways through which the Nazis carried out mass killings during the second world war. These sites surely are not entertaining, but these sites are very vital so that people will not forget the horrors that they have seen and do everything in order to make sure that such things would never happen again.
Learning from History
When visiting KZ memorials, you get the chance to gain ultimate knowledge about the holocaust and these forms of consequences of prejudices, discriminations, or totalitarianism. The programme will be memorable, the participants will be touched and it will help to discourage prejudice and encourage people to respect human rights.
The latter is also related to one of the aims of construction and implementation of different platforms to preserve the memory of the victims.
A visit to these memorials is in a way a recognition of the millions or people who perished and died during holocaust. It is used to meet the goal of keeping the memory of the deceased alive, and their history is not ever forgotten. It just feels pretty amazing to be able to relate on the historic aspect of these places and bear witness to these events.
Arrangements to make when preparing to visit your KZ memorial
The Best Location to Place the Memorial
In and around Berlin, there are quite a number of KZ memorial sites making it a bit difficult to choose the right one when planning a visit. Two of the most famous ones are the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum, situated near Berlin and the Holocaust Memorial inscribed in the capital of the country.
For those with little time, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is very immediate and gives good overview of the holocaust. However, if you can spare more time, you will be able to gain better insight of the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen Memorial compounded with narratives of the victims.
Booking a Guided Tour
Any time you visit a KZ memorial, it is advised to take an organized tour. Professional guides will give the camp historical background, extensive explanations and more information. They assist in guiding you around the memorial site and avoid being misled or missing any special attraction area.
Give Yourself Enough Time for Your Tour
There is a large number of KZ memorials, so one must plan sufficient time in order to experience the memorial area, the exposition, and possibly other sights. It is most advisable to plan for a minimum of 3-4 hours or best still a day trip since the onus is to not only read and get a grip of the history behind these sites, but positively embrace them.
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Memorial Grounds
Standing next to each KZ memorial is the expansive and now free space where the concentration camp formerly existed. They commonly consist of the historical buildings, replicas of the barracks, the watchtowers, as well as different monuments devoted to the certain type of victims.
Although, some are found in museums that have exhibitions and Documentation centers.
Most KZ have museums which include shows and documentation centres where objects, photos and survivors’ narratives enable the understanding of the ordeal of the victims. These exhibits help people recall the past, when people were suffering, and let people come to the place to venerate.
Contemplation and Reflection
A visit to a KZ memorial is awfully touching. One must not always be caught up with maps, plans and deadlines; therefore one should always find time to think. At many memorials there is an area or a room set for quite reflection which helps to contain one’s feelings and thoughts.
Tips for Your Visit
Be respectful: Bear in mind that these are memorials and should not be destroyed. Be properly dressed and to avoid bad body language towards the victims and other visitors.
Take advantage of multimedia guides: There are facilities where visitors can find extra information through an audioguide or a mobile application. They can enrich your experience and add more valuable notes about the history behind the places you would like to visit.
Bring water and snacks: More KZ memorials are huge and it is possible to feel hungry averagely during a one sightseeing, so you will need some coffee-time. It will also also important to have some water and light snacks packed so that the likely hood of getting tired is reduced.
Take breaks if needed: It may be emotionally demanding to have such an experience. If you want to take a break most of them provide resting area with benches or small coffee shops to calm your nerves.
Visit in the morning: In their turn, KZ memorials become more popular during the daytime. The probability of a more contemplative and relaxing visit is higher is one arrives early in the morning.
Going through the KZ memorials in Berlin is actually a good starting point if the goal is to get acquainted with the holocaust history better. Such places are underlines, which seen by us, we pay our respect to the victims, becoming knowledgable about the cruelty of the history and ensuring that such memories do not ever recur again. When going to visit the Pertanyungan place, do not forget to plan your visit, select the most appropriate memorial for your visit and always remember to be respecting and be sympathetic. It remains our hope and prayer that we never forget the victims who endured and died through this phase of history.
