What can you expect when visiting Sachsenhausen concentration camp from Berlin?
If you are a history enthusiast or simply planning your visit to Berlin and you are interested in the rather dark side of its history? Sachsenhausen concentration camp is one of the places to visit that, as a tourist, you will get to learn about the terrible deeds done by the Nazis during the Second World War. In this article, we will reveal what you may anticipate in the age of Sackagehausen from Berlin including meaningful recommendations and peculiarities.
1. Understanding the History of Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen is situated 35 kilometers to the north of Berlin and it was among the first camps built by the Nazis in 1936. Though at the beginning intended as an experiment for other camps and equivalent to the concentration camps already in existence at the time it turned into a temporary concentration camp and death factory for the political opponents, homosexuals, jews, and other undesirables.
During your sightseeing in Sachsenhausen you will be able to familiarize oneself with beginning of the camp, Holocaust and the everyday life of detainees. Visit and experience these museum, monuments and other information facilities for coherent understanding of this oppressed history.
2. Guided Tours and Audio Guides
This is particularly the case if you join a guided tour since it will make the tour in Sachsenhausen an interesting one. Professional tour guides in this context help to explain and make visitors to have a deeper understanding about the camp. They make the history to be more than just a story but one that is near to us and closer to our hearts.
In case you feel comfortable to sightsee on your own, it is possible to hire an audio-guide. These devices provide buffs of information and analysis based on the current location of the visitor, and thus it can be controlled for pacing and focused on parts attracting most interest.
3. Exploring the Sites at Sachsenhausen
Pay attention to such spots during the tour because every location at the camp has a history and stories of immense impact. Some notable areas include:
- Appellplatz: An open-air ground where prisoners, after undressing, Paradumarzt would stand for sometimes many hours exposed to the vagaries of the weather.
- Death Strip: Death strip is the zone surrounding the two fences within which the inmates could attempt to escape from but this would be very suicidal.
- Station Z: The site of the camp’s execution facility and gas chamber.
- Barracks: It is also possible to visit the reconstructed prison barracks where the life conditions of the prisoners are depicted.
Spend some moments to observe quiet and appreciate the gloomy environment, denying the thousands of people who perished inside these walls.
4. Emotional Impact and Self-Care
Visiting Sachsenhausen can be emotionally tiring as it provides an insight into one of the worse concentration camps. For the current visit, it is important to also take some care as well as after the visit. Pauze when necessary or in case of distress, think about the feelings or talk with travel partner or a therapist if required.
As a post-vist activities, one can make a point to relax, take a walk to the nearest park or engage in activities that ease them. Just do not forget that attending to one’s emotional self is very important.
5. Practical Tips for Visiting Sachsenhausen
Here are some pieces of advice on how to organize the trip to prevent problem situations in Sachsenhausen:
- You should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared because you will be walking on the terrain with differences in terms of heights.
- Be sure to take some water or other food and/ or snacks with you as there are no provisions of these items at the camp.
- It will be good to find out whether it is open now, because it may close early depending on the season.
- It is advised to go there during a weekday especially in the morning, as it will allow one to avoid crowds.
These recommendations will help one ensure they have the best of time on their tour in Sachsenhausen.
Final Thoughts
Sachsenhausen concentration camp is one of the places that one should visit when in Berlin as it helps in enlightening one. It helps to get outraged and appalled by getting a better sense of the events that took place so justice can be served to the victims and to prevent such actions from repeating themselves. Not too much can be done for the intentional killing of innocent people, but when planning the visit be sensitive with respect to the trip and contemplate over what the society has learned from this ugly episode in its history.
When traveling, one should prepare their mind first and be ready to be mortified by the history that this country has to offer. Awareness and remembrance of the past events should be put into practice in order to give it a worthy ending and pave the way to a more tolerant future.
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